India's first Hybrid Planetarium in Nagpur
Shrikant Pathak
Director Raman Science Centre
Left: Raman Science Centre, Nagpur; right:
Governor of Maharashtra state is opening the new
planetarium. Photo credits: Raman Science Centre.
The Raman Science Centre
to experience a breathtaking journey
The Planetarium Upgrade
The Raman Science Centre & Planetari-
through twinkling stars projected on
A high-level technical and financial
um is a constituent unit of the National
the 11-meter dome. The students in the
committee finally decided to install a
Council of Science Museums, Kolkata.
region and the general public thronged
hybrid planetarium to meet the expecta-
It started its journey into the planetarium
the place all round the year to see this
tions of the people of Nagpur. Again,
world in 1992, when the erstwhile Prime
magnificent night sky, with broad day-
the technical experience and the quality
Minister of India, the late Shri. P. V.
light outside.
of the opto-mechanical system of ZEISS
Narsimha Rao announced that a modern
The program continued till 2010, with
was a deciding factor for upgrading the
planetarium was planned to be installed
intermittent suggestions from the
system from ZKP 3 to ZKP 3B, with six
in the central part of the country.
visitors to have something unique and
high-resolution digital projectors to fill
The obvious choice was a ZEISS projec-
spectacular in the Nagpur Planetarium.
up the sky with fulldome projection. The
tor, the optical quality and trouble-free
This prompted the authorities of the
obvious solution was to have the ZEISS
mechanical parts of which gave it an
National Council of Science Museums
powerdome system tailor-made for the
edge over other players in the field.
to start an initiative for a revamp that
11-meter dome.
Finally the SKYMASTER ZKP 3 was im-
would definitely quench the thirst of
As the work progressed for the new
ported from Germany to Nagpur, known
having an enhanced immersive experi-
hybrid planetarium, all the team mem-
as the “Orange City”, and the fully
ence for the erudite and techno-savvy
bers from both ends started exchanging
functional planetarium was ready to be
youth of the country. The exposure to
technical details to ensure success. For
launched in 1995.
a multimedia experience of astronomy
ZEISS it was a re-launch of operations
It was a surprise gift to the citizens of
promised to offer an extra mile on the
in India with vigor and zeal, and for the
Nagpur and the neighboring states
path of edutainment.
Raman Planetarium it was like being a
28
Innovation Special Planetariums 10, 2014
kid given a new toy. With regular interactions, the Raman Planetarium started
to shade its old look to a brand-new appearance. While the equipment underwent retrofitting, the architecture inside
the theater welcomed the new change.
The sound system and the audio quality
Visitors to the Raman Science Centre Planetarium.
took a quantum leap.
Scince the upgrade the number of public visitors
doubled.
When the German team along with
their Indian counterparts arrived for
the final installations at Nagpur it was
In order to utilize the full potential of
and first-hand experience is excellent.
a reunion of departed families rejoin-
the system, a research project funded
With the help of nine projectors, digital
ing after a long haul. The untiring
by the Tata Institute of Fundamental
fulldome projection to the 15-meter
efforts from both sides yielded in a fully
Research, Mumbai, was carried out in
dome is simply mind-boggling. Again,
functional hybrid planetarium, the first
the Nagpur planetarium to document
an incredible success story for the ZEISS
in the central part of India. ZEISS put
the ethnic knowledge about astronomy
team.
forth an all inclusive effort to make this
prevailing amongst one of the oldest
project a success. Our technical staff
tribes in the central region. The plan-
was very enthusiastic and energetic to
etarium helped the tribal folk to identify
learn and work alongside the world’s
the constellations in their native lan-
planetarium pioneers.
guage and to narrate their meaning and
significance to those not in the know.
The Success Story
This project was carried out in 2012 not
At the inaugural ceremony on 27th Au-
long after the launch of the new system
gust 2011, the honorable Governor of
at Nagpur.
Maharashtra state was the chief guest
among the invitees and the press media.
A Model for Replacements
The first hybrid show, »Exploring the
The success story of the Raman Science
Universe – Probing the Heavens with
Centre and Planetarium has triggered
Galileo«, provoked a general reaction of
interest amongst visitors from all parts
WOW!! from the dumbstruck audience.
of the country; and even competitors
After the initial setup, the Nagpur team
have expressed their desire to witness
took up the challenge to see if they could
the immersiveness of the digital world,
produce a hybrid show on their own with
blending seamlessly with the opto-
the Uniview software supplied, some bril-
mechanical sky. As some remarked, “The
Raman Science Centre
liant library images and high-definition
edge blending techniques used by ZEISS
Empress City
movie clips. With the help of the ZEISS
are unmatched.”
Nagpur, Maharashtra 440018
representatives in India , the first 15-min-
Experiencing the change in the plan-
India
ute maiden show on »Planet Jupiter« was
etarium system at Nagpur and its effects
www.rscnagpur.gov.in
produced at Nagpur. So far, since the
on attendance figures, the Regional
inauguration, more than 336 000 visitors
Science Centre at Kozhikode (NCSM
ZEISS SKYMASTER ZKP 3B
have enjoyed the new immersive experi-
unit) followed suit and started working
ZEISS powerdome®EDITION
ence offered by this state-of-the-art tech-
to acquire a similar system as a replace-
Opening: 1995
nology. Not to mention that the revenue
ment for their two-decade-old technol-
Reopening: 2011
showed an upward curve with the ever-
ogy. There, the work of installation was
Dome diameter: 11 m
increasing draw of the science centre.
just completed a couple of months back,
Seats: 140
“Credentials”
Innovation Special Planetariums 10, 2014
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