ZEISS Equips India’s Most Cutting-Edge Planetarium in Kolkata with 3D Projection Technology

With its 23-meter dome and 360 seats, the Science City planetarium in Kolkata, the state capital of West Bengal in India, is one of the largest planetariums on the subcontinent. Following an extensive renovation, India’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, reopened the planetarium – now equipped with entirely new technology – on 18 February 2019.

ZEISS was responsible for the complete retrofitting of the dome theatre, transforming it into the most cutting-edge digital planetarium in India. The modernization has enabled the technological switch from analog 2D to digital 3D stereo projection. The projection dome and the previous analog planetarium technology from a Japanese manufacturer were completely replaced. ZEISS installed a six-channel stereo full-dome system with projectors that enable especially bright and detailed projection. The first movie to be shown is “The Life of Trees”, a German production distributed by ZEISS. It tells the story of two insects, who take the audience on a journey of discovery as they dive into the exciting world of plants.

ZEISS was also responsible for the LED dome illumination, the new sound system and the seating in cooperation with the local agency Orbit Animate.

Science City is a science park and the largest of its kind in India. Each year, it attracts more than a million people from all over the world. The park is part of the National Council of Science Museums.