Lights
off, orders the Assistant Director of Birla Planetarium. You hold
your breath as the cosmic world revolves around you – twinkling
stars, shooting meteoroids, the rotating solar system and the
undulating contours of the red planet, Mars. The spectacular show
goes on, with the city of Chennai radiantly resplendent against
the night sky. An ethereal experience that almost makes you feel
one with the sparkling universe. The Tamilnadu or the Periyar
Science and Technology Centre as it is popularly known, encompasses
a Science Centre and a Planetarium. Eight galleries on themes
of Physical Science, Transport, Electronics & Communication,
Energy, Materials Science, Life Science, Innovation, International
Dolls and Children, with over 500 exhibits, make the visit to
the Centre, a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience.
Galleries display exhibits of the interactive variety. So, you
can participate directly in the learning process and satisfy your
curiosity about scientific principles and developments taking
place in Science and Technology from time to time. So what if
you’re not the scholarly type or gifted with a scientific
bent of mind? Exhibits are designed to catch your attention. The
Solar System, Cycle of Stars, Sky and Seasons, Comets, Man on
the Moon - exciting celestial topics envelop you in a unique imbibing
process. Incidentally, they also happen to be the highlights of
the Planetarium’s unique programs since its inception in
1988. An entirely novel concept is being used to carry the message
of science to the remotest areas - Science on Wheels – a
mobile science exhibition.
What’s more, the planetarium plays home to the most modern,
sophisticated and versatile GM II projector. The accompanying
special effects projector, recreates some of the most awe inspiring
heavenly phenomena on the specially perforated aluminium inner
dome. A truly magnificent experience! Another feather in its cap,
the planetarium is fully computerised with a comfortable seating
capacity of 236 at any given time. Want to learn science in an
open-air natural environment? Then take a stroll down the Science
Park. It provides just the right mix of interactive exhibits to
enable you to learn science in a conducive environment. Equally
impressive is the Traffic Park that keeps you abreast of the latest
road safety measures. Children have a rollicking time dashing
around in toy cars with the help of automatic electronic signal
systems.
If
you’re a nature lover or an environmentalist for that matter,
then the energy and eco park would be just the right place for
you to step across. Get acquainted with the working utilities
of solar energy, wind energy and bio-gas in the former park. An
entire forest has been simulated in the eco park - water, plants,
life models of animals, the lion, tiger and deer, a definite crowd-puller
with kids. Interested in learning about our fair weather friends?
Then, the Meteorological Observatory might well be the answer
to most of your queries on the celestial phenomena. Meteorological
instruments forewarn us of likely climatic changes. But at times,
the weather decides to play traunt - rain when a specially cheerful
day is forecast or be bright and clear when a cloudy day is predicted.
The
Science and Technology Centre is open on all days except on national
holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5.45 p.m. Timings for cosmic shows in
the planetarium (English) are 10.45 a.m., 1.15 p.m. and 3.45 p.m.
In Tamil, the show timings are 12 noon and 2.30 p.m.
Location
Tamilnadu
Science & Technology Centre
Gandhi Mandapam Road (Behind CLRI)
Chennai- 600 025
Phone: 91-44 - 24410025 / 24416751 / 24915250
