Getting close to the sun and the stars
GANESH PRABHU
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This is a must for all those interested in the mystery of the solar system.
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PHOTO: K. BHAGYAPRAKASH
CELEBRATING THE STARS: We have a lot to learn about the solar world.
If you love to watch the sky and wonder about the stars and the planets and want to unravel the mystery behind them, a visit to the T.M.A. Planetarium in Manipal is something you should not miss. The Planetarium gives you information about the stars, the solar and planetary systems in our universe. A visit to the T.M.A planetarium is not only an enriching experience, but also something you will cherish for a long time . The T.M.A. Planetarium is housed in a beautiful 3,000 square feet complex, which includes the planetarium, an exhibition lobby and an auditorium.
This planetarium has an eight-metre diameter sky dome.
The maximum seating capacity of this fully air-conditioned planetarium is 69. Three shows are held everyday, either in English or Kannada, according to the demand.
Interesting show
The normal show timing is 10.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m. and a show in afternoon. Each show is of 30 minutes duration. The cost of show per person is Rs. 10. The Junior Engineer of the Planetarium, Krishnaprasad said that whenever there is more demand, more shows are held. "From August 2006 to February 2007, nearly 350 shows have been held," he adds. The show entitled "Starry Skies" covers the galaxies and the solar system. It is a general programme for the students and the general public. The planetarium is closed on Tuesdays and some national holidays. It is open on all the other six days including Sundays. Says the Director of the Manipal Institute of Communication Buroshiva Dasgupta, who is in charge of the T.M.A. Planetarium, "We have plans to start more programmes focussing on the stars and the universe."
The popularity of this planetarium is such that students and people not only from Udupi district but also from other districts visit it. The Planetarium started functioning in May 2000. The chief of Infosys Technologies, N. R. Narayana Murthy, officially inaugurated the Planetarium on December 23, 2000. The total cost of the entire planetarium project was Rs. 2.65 crores. You can contact the T.M.A. Pai Planetarium on telephone number (0820) 2571922 for details about the shows.
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