Planetarium screening film on 'cosmic world'

By Shreya Viswanath

Three claps, silence, lights off.
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 is a great experience that almost makes you feel one with the sparkling universe.
Welcome to the latest show at the Periyar Science and Technology Center in Kotturpuram.
There is a Science Center and a planetarium here. There are eight galleries on themes related to Physical Science, Transport, Electronics & Communication, Energy, Materials Science, Life Science, Innovation, International Dolls and Children, with over 500 exhibits of the interactive variety, makes a visit to the Center a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience.
The planetarium is 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 aluminum inner dome.
This planetarium is fully computerized and seats 236 at any given time.
Timings for cosmic shows in the planetarium - in English: 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.
Once you are done with the show, take a stroll down the Science Park. It provides a mix of interactive exhibits.
Equally impressive is the Traffic Park that keeps you abreast of the latest road safety measures.
Then there are the energy and eco parks to explore.
Get acquainted with the working utilities of solar energy, wind energy and bio-gas in the energy park. An entire forest has been simulated in the eco park - water, plants, life models of animals, the lion, tiger and deer - these are the crowd-pullers.
The Meteorological Observatory might well be the answer to most of your queries on the celestial phenomena.
If you have not visited this campus before, do it this summer.
The Science and Technology Center is open on all days except on national holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5.45 p.m.
Location - Tamilnadu Science & Technology Center, Gandhi Mandapam Road (behind CLRI campus). Phone: 91-44 - 24410025 / 24416751 / 24915250