
Karnataka to Build State's Second Largest Planetarium and Science Centre in Hampi: Minister N.S. Boseraju
Kamalapur (Vijayanagara district): Karnataka is set to establish the state's second-largest planetarium and the largest such facility in the Kalyana Karnataka region at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi, State Minister for Minor Irrigation and Science and Technology N.S. Boseraju announced on Monday.
The minister conducted a site inspection at Kamalapur in Vijayanagara district, a prominent tourist destination in Kalyana Karnataka, where the proposed state-of-the-art science centre and planetarium is to be constructed.
10-Acre Site Approved
A prime 10-acre parcel of land located alongside a major road in Kamalapur has been earmarked for the project. Minister Boseraju directed officials to make optimal use of the space with an efficient and innovative design.
Advanced Planetarium Facilities
The planned facility will feature a 12-metre nano-seam dome planetarium equipped with modern technologies, alongside a full-fledged science centre. The site has been allocated by the Department of Tourism, and the minister instructed officials to initiate necessary groundwork for the construction phase.
Minister Boseraju said the initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to foster scientific curiosity and awareness among youth in the Kalyana Karnataka region. 'In line with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's vision, science centres and planetariums are being planned in every district of the state. Providing high-quality science infrastructure in Hampi, a world heritage site, is a step in that direction,' he stated.
Officials from the Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS), including Managing Director Sadashiva Prabhu, accompanied the minister during the visit, along with senior officials from the Science and Technology Department and district administration. (eom)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Mount Etna: 5 facts about Europe's most active volcano
Mount Etna: 5 facts about Europe's most active volcano (Image: AP) Italy's Mount Etna lays claim to several titles. It is: The world's most active " stratovolcano " Europe's largest and most active volcano One of the best-monitored volcanoes in the world One of the world's longest documented volcanoes A UNESCO World Heritage Site Where is Mount Etna? Mount Etna rises 3,357 meters (11,014 feet) above Catania, a city on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. It covers an area of 1,250 square kilometers (482 square miles). What type of volcano is Mount Etna? Mount Etna is what geologists and volcanologists call a stratovolcano or composite volcano. Stratovolcanoes typically have steep inclines and many separate vents, formed over tens to hundreds of thousands of years. According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Etna has more than 500,000 years of eruptive history, but it's only taken its current, conical shape in the past hundred thousand years. Stratovolcanoes can be highly explosive when they erupt. They spew a variety of magma types, including basalt, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite. When UNESCO inscribed Mount Etna as a World Heritage Site in 2013, it said it was "an iconic site" that continued "to influence volcanology, geophysics and other Earth science disciplines. The volcano also supports important terrestrial ecosystems including endemic flora and fauna, and its activity makes it a natural laboratory for the study of ecological and biological processes." How dangerous is Mount Etna? It is difficult to determine the exact level of danger posed by Mount Etna. When it began erupting in June 2025, INGV set its alert level for Etna as "basic." While the volcano has been spewing lava non-stop for thousands of years, volcanologists can pinpoint new eruptions at least once or twice a year. According to the INGV, Mount Etna is in a state of persistent activity, with "continuous outgassing [which] can evolve into low energy Strombolian activity." "Strombolian" describes a type of eruption, caused by expanding gas that ejects clots of glowing lava in a cycle of almost continuous, small eruptions. Etna is also prone to "terminal and sub-terminal eruptions" at craters at the top of the volcano or nearby, and "lateral and eccentric eruptions" at vents along the slopes of the volcano What threat does Mount Etna pose to people? Few people live within 5-10km (3.1-6.2 miles) of Mount Etna, but they do face a constant threat of debris and dust, even from the smallest eruptions. Lava flows have been known to reach as far as the eastern seaboard of Sicily and run off into the Ionian Sea. It is about 40km from Etna to Catania, which has a population of more than 300,000 people, mostly in its outskirts. Research by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany, suggested the eastern flank of Mount Etna was "slowly sliding towards the sea." In 2021, researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences said the flank was sliding into the Ionian Sea at a rate of centimeters per year: "Such unstable flanks could fail catastrophically, triggering landslides that could generate tsunamis." This has happened in the past, about 8,000 years ago. And what of the flora and fauna at Mount Etna? Mount Etna and its surroundings are home to a variety of animals, including foxes, wild cats, porcupines, pine martens, rabbits, hares; and birds of prey like sparrowhawks, buzzards, kestrels, peregrine falcons and golden eagles. Farming has left a significant human footprint around Mount Etna, largely because volcanic soil is good for agriculture. As the British Geological Survey explains, "Volcanic deposits are rich with magnesium and potassium […] when the volcanic rock and ash weathers, the [magnesium and potassium] are released, producing extremely fertile soils." The volcano has also shaped its surrounding woodlands: vineyards, olive groves, orchards, hazelnut and pistachio groves flourish, and higher up, birch trees are exclusive to the area.


Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
What caused the massive eruption of italy's Mount Etna
Italy's Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, produced an explosive eruption on Monday morning, sending a huge cloud of ash, smoke and rock fragments several kilometres into the sky. Although the eruption created a spectacular sight, it resulted in no reported injuries or damage and barely even disrupted flights in the region. Mount Etna, sometimes referred to simply as Etna, is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, lying just off the toe of the Italian 'boot'. Etna's peak is the highest in Italy south of the Alps, and it is the largest of Europe's active volcanoes. Etna's summit has five craters, which are responsible for most of the volcano's eruptions. 'Flank' eruptions also occur at the 300-odd vents of varying sizes along the slopes of the mountain. The volcano is in near-constant activity. Since 1600, at least 60 flank eruptions and many more summit eruptions have happened. In recent years, summit eruptions have occurred in 2006, 2007-08, on two occasions in 2012, in 2018, and 2021; flank eruptions have taken place in 2001, 2002-03, 2004-05, and 2008-09. Etna has been a World Heritage Site since 2013, and according to UNESCO, the volcano's eruptive history can be traced back 500,000 years. At least 2,700 years of this activity have been documented. Experts suggest that the eruption began with an increase in pressure inside the volcano due to expanding gases, which led to the collapse of the southeast crater, resulting in hot lava flows. According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Etna Observatory, the volcano was witnessing a 'Strombolian' eruption. This type of eruption is usually characterised as discreet moderately explosive bursts which can eject chunks of rock and cinders that can travel hundreds of metres into the air. It occurs due to the presence of gas in the magma chamber within the volcano. 'When the gas bubbles reach the surface, they can burst suddenly, throwing material skywards. The process is not dissimilar to letting gas out of a fizzy drink,' according to a report by the BBC. The Strombolian eruption is named after another Italian volcano called Stromboli, which produces minor eruptions every 10 to 20 minutes. However, some volcanologists believe that Mount Etna did not experience a Strombolian eruption but rather a Plinian eruption, in which hot gas, ash, and rock can explode high enough to reach the stratosphere. Given that the Monday eruption produced by Mount Etna threw material several kilometres into the sky, this set of volcanologists say it was a Plinian eruption. Scientists typically classify eruptions based on how explosive they are. More explosive eruptions tend to be more dangerous, as they can cover a larger area and move faster.


Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
Why is Mount Etna so famous, when was its last eruption, and how active is it?
As one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, Mt. Etna 's tremendous eruptions make international news on a regular basis. For the past ten years, the volcanic activity of Mount Etna , one of Europe's most active volcanoes, has been practically continuous. There may be eruptions more than once a year or even within a single month. What makes Mount Etna one of the most active volcanoes in the world? With 19,237 hectares of uninhabited land on its highest point, Mount Etna is a famous location on Sicily's east coast. The highest island mountain in the Mediterranean and the world's most active stratovolcano is Mount Etna. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in National Capital Region - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Over 500,000 years ago, the volcano began to erupt, and at least 2,700 years of this activity have been recorded. The nearly constant eruptive activity of Mount Etna continues to have an impact on geophysics, volcanology, and other Earth science fields, as per a report. The volcano sustains significant terrestrial ecosystems, such as endemic species of plants and animals, and its activity makes it an ideal natural laboratory for studying biological and ecological processes. The site is a popular place for research and education because of its array of easily accessible volcanic features, which include cinder cones, lava flows, summit craters, and the Valle de Bove depression. Live Events The most rigorously protected and scientifically significant portion of Mount Etna is located within the Parco dell'Etna Regional Nature Park and is known as the Mount Etna World Heritage Site (19,237 ha). Given that its volcanic activity has been documented for at least 2,700 years, Mount Etna is well known for its extraordinary level of activity. It is globally significant due to its fame, scientific significance, and cultural and educational worth. How active is Mt. Etna? A prime example of continuous geological processes and volcanic landforms, Mount Etna is one of the most prominent and active volcanoes in the world. Since Mount Etna has been active for almost 3,000 years, eruptions have occurred frequently, as per a report by BBC. With eruptions occurring multiple times a year, and occasionally even within a month, it is regarded as one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The volcano's eruptive history dates back 500,000 years, according to Unesco, which designated it a World Heritage Site in 2013. How destructive have Mount Etna's eruptions been? It has a base of less than 100 miles and a height of about 3,400 meters. In 1669, Mount Etna experienced its largest known eruption in recorded history. On March 11, the volcano began to rumble. Over the next few weeks, several significant eruptions lasted for about four months. It is estimated that the lava flows and earthquakes that occurred in the vicinity of the eruption destroyed about fourteen villages and towns. Thousands more were left homeless, and about 20,000 people died. What are its violent eruptions throughout history? Four flank eruptions have occurred on Etna since 2000: in 2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, and 2008–2009. Summit eruptions occurred in 2006, 2007–2008, January–April 2012, July–October 2012, December 2018, and February 2021. When was its last eruption? On July 4, 2024, Etna erupted once more, resulting in volcanic ash in the air that forced the closure of Catania Airport. The following day, the airport reopened. Mt. Etna erupted violently on August 14, 2024, sending a cloud of ash 9.5 kilometers into the sky. The next day, Catania Airport was forced to close, as quoted in a report. FAQs Why is Mount Etna so famous? Mount Etna is well-known for being Europe's tallest volcano and one of the most active on Earth, with eruptions dating back more than 2,700 years. When did Mount Etna last erupt? Mount Etna's most recent eruptions occurred in August 2024, and the volcano is still active, with frequent summit activity.