Lucknow to Witness India’s Next-Gen 3D Planetarium on 19th August

By Prem Kumar Mon, 18 Aug 2025

Lucknow Desk (Pratyush Pandey). The city of Nawabs is ready to experience a cosmic milestone. On 19th August 2025, Lucknow will inaugurate Uttar Pradesh’s first Active Stereo 3D Planetarium – and only the sixth of its kind in India – at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium.

The grand launch will be graced by Shri Anil Kumar, Honourable Minister, Science & Technology, U.P. along with Shri Ajit Singh Pal, Minister of State (S&T), Shri Pandhari Yadav, Principal Secretary (S&T), and the Director General, Council of Science & Technology, U.P. Around 110 students from Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya, Mohanlalganj will be the first group to watch the debut show at 3:00 PM, accompanied by the Honourable Minister. Members of UPAAC will be volunteering at the event.

A New Era of Astronomy in Lucknow

This state-of-the-art facility promises an immersive journey through the universe – from breathtaking views of the Moon’s surface to real-time astronomical simulations and asteroid impacts. The initiative, led by the U.P. Council of Science & Technology (CST-UP), perfectly aligns with the National Education Policy and aims to ignite scientific curiosity among students and the public.

Indira Gandhi Planetarium – From 2003 to 2025

Operational since 2003, the Indira Gandhi Planetarium has been a gateway to astronomy for millions. Initially, it featured an optomechanical projector by GOTO (Japan) that projected static celestial images – a hallmark of traditional planetariums worldwide.

Now, it has been transformed with next-gen digital technology, offering visitors a dynamic, fully interactive cosmic experience.

The Upgrade: Technology Highlights

Latest System: Installed by Evans & Sutherland (USA) and Infovision (India), featuring the Digistar 7 2D/3D – 8K Fulldome Projection System.
Seamless Dome: A 15m-wide Nano-Seam dome ensures crystal-clear visuals without visible joints.
Immersive Audio: Advanced 7.1 Surround Sound with acoustic treatment for echo-free clarity.
Real-Time Data: Directly integrated with NASA/EASA catalogs for accurate sky simulations.
Global Network: One of only six Active 3D Planetariums in India; over 700 worldwide use Digistar technology.
Interactive Features: Terrain engine to explore Earth, Mars, or even exoplanets with realistic elevation datasets.
Active Stereo 3D: A patented Spherical 3D® Stereo system turns the dome into a lifelike 3D environment.
Domecasting: Capability to broadcast live dome shows to theaters across the world.

Visitor Experience

Each show, lasting 30–35 minutes, will welcome 218 viewers per session in both Hindi and English. Visitors can:

Travel through 10,000 years of past and future skies.
Witness planetary surfaces, nebulae, galaxies, comets, and asteroids.
Explore earthquakes, weather patterns, tides, and ocean currents through advanced Earth science visualizations.
Experience interactive landings on planets and moons, complete with volumetric clouds and terrain details.

Future Vision

The upgraded Indira Gandhi Planetarium is no longer just an entertainment hub. It is poised to become a center of science education and communication for students, teachers, researchers, and space enthusiasts across Northern India.