Gazing at the stars from Delhi? You are standing before the Nehru Planetarium. It is more than just a building. It is a gateway to the cosmos. Let’s embark on a journey through time and space right here at the Nehru Planetarium.
The Nehru Planetarium is named after India’s first Prime Minister. Jawaharlal Nehru was a man of vision. He understood the importance of science. Nehru Planetariums can be found in Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore as well. There is also a Jawahar Planetarium in Prayagraj. This is where Nehru was born.
Delhi’s Nehru Planetarium resides on the grounds of Teen Murti Bhavan. This was Nehru’s official residence. Now, it is the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund established the planetarium in 1964. Its aim? To promote astronomy education. Indira Gandhi inaugurated this planetarium on February 6 1984. She also inaugurated its Mumbai namesake.
What makes this place special? The Soyuz T-10 spacecraft is a major attraction. It carried Rakesh Sharma to space. He was India’s first cosmonaut. You can also view his spacesuit and mission journal. When Indira Gandhi asked Rakesh Sharma how India looked from space, he replied “Saare Jahan Se Achcha”. This translates to “The best in the world”.
Step inside the Sky Theatre at the Nehru Planetarium. It is very popular. Over 200000 visitors come each year. The theatre is dome-shaped. It displays information about constellations and planets. The Sky Theatre uses cartoons and computer animations. It also uses video clippings and special effects.
The Nehru Planetarium underwent renovations and reopened in September 2010. These renovations cost Rupees 11 crore. The planetarium received the Queen’s Baton before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The “Megastar” projector can display two million stars. The Nehru Planetarium also sets up old telescopes during solar eclipses. Projection boxes and solar filters are available.
The Nehru Planetarium continues to inspire. It encourages people to explore the universe. It fosters a love for astronomy. It reminds us of India’s contributions to space exploration. The Nehru Planetarium welcomes all. It invites everyone to reach for the stars.