India's Nehru Planetarium Gets Stellar Upgrade - Australasian Leisure Management

India’s Nehru Planetarium Gets Stellar Upgrade

October 28, 2010

James Croll

Attractions / Technology /

The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library's (NMML) Nehru Planetarium in New Delhi has been upgraded with a Definiti theatre system that delivers system stunning visuals of the earth and space to visitors.

The planetarium is the first in India to be equipped with a Definiti Optical hybrid projection system, bringing eight million stars and fantastic flights through the universe to the well-known facility.

Inaugurated by Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of the NMML Executive Council, the festivities featured Chandra: A Stellar Life, a fulldome production chronicling the life and works of Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

Nehru Planetarium Director, Dr. Rathnasree Nandivada explains, "the new system from Sky-Skan has provided the opportunity to present a special production about Chandra. It has been a long-held wish of mine to develop such a presentation of the life and work of Indiaâs foremost cosmologist."

Opened in 1984, the planetarium has captured the imagination of millions of Indians with its stories of planets, stars, and other objects as seen from Earth. The original optical projector showed a maximum of a few thousand stars - about as many as you can be seen on a clear night.

India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru believed that science education is crucial for responsible citizenship. That vision is renewed with an optical projector made by Ohira Tech in Japan.

In addition to the optical projector, a stunning new Definiti digital projection system takes audiences on fantastic journeys from the earth to the moon and beyond to the planets, stars, and galaxies, right out to the edge of the known universe.

The digital system uses six JVC projectors to produce 7.5 million effective pixels on the dome â many times sharper than even HDTV. The projectors use Definiti HD lenses specially designed for planetariums. The Definiti system provides the planetarium with the opportunity to present a wide range of new experiences that were not possible with the original system.

The software running the theatre, DigitalSky, is the most advanced astronomy software engine in the world, with a giant database of data and user-friendly tools to produce engaging shows. Highlights include over 400,000 asteriods with their movements calculated in real-time. Tens of thousands of astronomical images come with the system, accessible with drag and drop simplicity. An incredible array of voyages can be assembled so planetarium staff can keep the presentations fresh and integrate the latest scientific discoveries.

DigitalSky is revolutionizing planetariums around the world because of its power to fly in real-time through vast data sets that used to be only witnessed in research institutions. The fulfilling of Nehru Planetariumâs mission to excite young people with science is realized with this amazing software.

The NMML, in association with the National Council of Science Centres selected Sky-Skan and Young India Films, Sky-Skanâs partner in India, to upgrade their planetarium machine.

The changes include a new dome, sound system, and cove lighting. Sky-Skan installed and tuned a six channel surround sound configuration to match the exciting visual presentations.

High-efficiency Definiti LED cove lighting has been installed, providing beautiful washes of colour before and after the shows. The theatre uses SPICE Automation hardware and software throughout for seamless integration.

The optical star projector and digital system for multimedia imagery and real-time space flights are seamlessly integrated using DigitalSky software from Sky-Skanâoperators have one set of controls for both systems. The new presentation Chandra: A Stellar Life was produced utilizing the planetariumâs

Definiti production system with the assistance of Sky-Skan production staff.

For more information go to www.skyskan.com/

Image: Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai.

About the author

James Croll

With a background in adventure tourism, events management and marketing, James Croll is a regular contributor to Australasian Leisure Management and Asian Leisure Business.

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