Dr Nanasaheb Upasani Planetarium: All You Need To Know About Digistar 2025 Projection, First Of Its Kind In India Opened In Pune (Photos)

A state of the art Dr Nanasaheb Upasani Planetarium was opened to the public at Abhinav Primary School in Pune on Sunday. It uses Digistar 2025 projection system, a first of its kind in India. It was inaugurated on April 30 by Suresh Naik, Ex-Group Director, ISRO; Arvind Paranjpye, director, Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai and others.

The 50 seater Planetarium project is the brainchild of Sudheer Upasani, who aimed to provide effective learning of astronomy, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in an engaging manner. 

“There has been a lot of technological innovation with the beginning of Digital Planetariums in 2003. The ASM’s Planetarium projects a real sky-like immersive experience that can be enjoyed by students and enthusiasts in the heart of the city,” said Paranjpye during an event held on Sunday. 

“It can help in research projects, tinker children’s minds and curiosity and it has been aligned with NEP 2020,” Paranjpye added. 

The project was installed by Infovision Technology. “It comes with the latest technology and a 360-degree viewing experience. Digistar 2025 projection system from Evans and Sutherland, USA, the first of its kind in the country,” said Abhijit Shetye director of Infovision Technology.

The planetarium was supported by a donation by Vidyalakshmi Foundation, a private trust run by late educationist Dr Nanasaheb Upasani’s family members. In addition to this, the school has started an astronomy club and has added a dedicated planetarium period in the weekly schedule for ASM students from classes 5 to 8. 

“The software can access shows from ISRO, NASA and European Space agencies, and also can live shows through dome-casting, and comes with an in-built show-building software,” Paranjpye added.

Rajashree Telkar from ASM highlighted that a dedicated website will be launched soon. It will display the dome-casting slot’s information and people can book shows through the website on weekends.