The Indira Gandhi Planetarium (ISO: ), also known as the Patna Planetarium (ISO: ), is located in Patna's Indira Gandhi Science Complex. The planetarium was constructed through Bihar Council on Science & Technology at a total cost of about . It was conceptualised in 1989 by Bihar Chief Minister Shri Satyendra Narain Sinha with construction commencing in the same year, and opened for the public from 1 April 1993. It is named after senior Indian National Congress leader and former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi.
The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is one of the largest planetariums in Asia. It attracts many domestic as well as foreign tourists. The planetarium has regular film shows on subjects related to astronomy. It also holds exhibitions, which attract many visitors.
The planetarium uses traditional opto-mechanical projection of celluloid film.
Criticism
In contrast to more modern digital projectors, the opto-mechanical system uses films that are difficult to change. As a consequence, the same film may be shown for years.
Modernisation
In 2021, modernisation works were taken up for Patna Planetarium. Patna Taramandal is undergoing a major revamp, and will be equipped with an advanced projection system, acoustic sound and new hanging dome-shaped screen. A high-capacity optical telescope will also be set up on its premises.
Competition
The first digital planetarium of Bihar was planned to open in late 2016 at the premises of Shrikrishna Science Centre near Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The planetarium has been developed at a cost of and is equipped with a Carl Zeiss digital projector system.