<p>The Nehru Planetarium at Worli in Mumbai completes 45 years this week.</p>.<p>The planetarium was inaugurated on March 3, 1977 by then Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi.</p>.<p>Over the years, this has grown into a Centre for astronomy and space science outreach.</p>.<p>Nearly 90 years have passed by after the first Planetarium was built and served as a visual aid in learning astronomy,” said Suhas Naik-Satam, General Secretary, National Centre for Science Communicators.</p>.<p>Nehru Planetarium has so far created thirty-five astronomical presentations; twenty-eight of them by using the Carl Zeiss Mark IV Universal Projector. “Over 14 million people have viewed and enjoyed these shows,” said Satam, former Programme Coordinator (Scientific), Nehru Planetarium.</p>.<p>On the complexities of a planetarium, Satam said: “Creating a planetarium programme is more of an art than science. It involves the interaction of scientists, artists, communicators, musicians, technicians like sound recordists, photographers and a host of others. First the theme is chosen, and then a team of researchers collect basic information. It is checked and re-checked and a preliminary script is written. This is then tested in the planetarium dome for its feasibility and operational convenience.”</p>.<p>Some of the programmes that the Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai produced include: Tryst with Destiny, Galileo to Galileo, Cosmic Life, This Violent Universe, 4000 B.C. to 2000 A.D. – Evolution of Astronomy, Universe in Seven Steps, Comets to Stars, Secret Life Of Stars, Stars In the LimeLight, Hide and Seek in the Sky, Fireworks in Space and others.</p>.<p>Among the outreach activities of Nehru Planetarium is the dissemination of information in astronomy through the concept of the “Mini Planetarium". This planetarium on wheels consists of a projector capable of projecting 960 stars in a collapsible dome. Being portable and compact it can readily be set up in any classroom of area 150 square feet and can accommodate a class of 30-40 students.</p>.<p>The mobile exhibitions on Astronomy together with a portable Mini-Planetarium are sent out to village and district towns to reach and serve a wider cross-section of the people.</p>.<p>Telescopes are kept outside the planetarium for watching the night sky. These telescopes are also being taken to various places, particularly villages.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>The Nehru Planetarium at Worli in Mumbai completes 45 years this week.</p>.<p>The planetarium was inaugurated on March 3, 1977 by then Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi.</p>.<p>Over the years, this has grown into a Centre for astronomy and space science outreach.</p>.<p>Nearly 90 years have passed by after the first Planetarium was built and served as a visual aid in learning astronomy,” said Suhas Naik-Satam, General Secretary, National Centre for Science Communicators.</p>.<p>Nehru Planetarium has so far created thirty-five astronomical presentations; twenty-eight of them by using the Carl Zeiss Mark IV Universal Projector. “Over 14 million people have viewed and enjoyed these shows,” said Satam, former Programme Coordinator (Scientific), Nehru Planetarium.</p>.<p>On the complexities of a planetarium, Satam said: “Creating a planetarium programme is more of an art than science. It involves the interaction of scientists, artists, communicators, musicians, technicians like sound recordists, photographers and a host of others. First the theme is chosen, and then a team of researchers collect basic information. It is checked and re-checked and a preliminary script is written. This is then tested in the planetarium dome for its feasibility and operational convenience.”</p>.<p>Some of the programmes that the Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai produced include: Tryst with Destiny, Galileo to Galileo, Cosmic Life, This Violent Universe, 4000 B.C. to 2000 A.D. – Evolution of Astronomy, Universe in Seven Steps, Comets to Stars, Secret Life Of Stars, Stars In the LimeLight, Hide and Seek in the Sky, Fireworks in Space and others.</p>.<p>Among the outreach activities of Nehru Planetarium is the dissemination of information in astronomy through the concept of the “Mini Planetarium". This planetarium on wheels consists of a projector capable of projecting 960 stars in a collapsible dome. Being portable and compact it can readily be set up in any classroom of area 150 square feet and can accommodate a class of 30-40 students.</p>.<p>The mobile exhibitions on Astronomy together with a portable Mini-Planetarium are sent out to village and district towns to reach and serve a wider cross-section of the people.</p>.<p>Telescopes are kept outside the planetarium for watching the night sky. These telescopes are also being taken to various places, particularly villages.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>