'Karnataka to have six more mobile digital planetariums'

District-in-charge minister M R Seetharam flagged off the mobile digital planetarium at Government PU College premises in Madikeri on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said it would help school students in rural areas get the planetarium experience and will guide them in astronomy and science-related issues. The planetarium will have screenings based on the high school syllabus.

Under the banner of "planetarium for school premises," it will visit a few government schools in the district. Teachers and students should make use of the facilities, added Seetharam.

He said that the government had purchased five vehicles for mobile planetarium at a cost of Rs 6 crore last August. This has benefited 1.50 lakh government schoolchildren. Now, in accordance with the budget announcement, six more such mobile planetariums will be purchased.

The planetariums provide an immersive, digital experience of space for students. Visuals of planets in our solar system are projected on a dome. Each show will last 20 minutes. It has details on astronomy, rocket launch, and others.