Mobile Planetarium at Chinmaya Vidyalaya
Aug 30, 2011
Internal Press Release

To popularise astronomy among school students, Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation organised a 3 day mobile planetarium 'Taramandal' here at Chinmaya Vidyalaya today in collaboration with National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), New Delhi and Bharat Jana Gyana Vigyan Samiti (BJGVS), Bhubaneswar. The programme was dedicated in memory of Smt. ILA Panda , Founder Member of Chinmaya Vidyalaya. About 1000 students of various schools in and around Therubali enjoyed the mobile planetarium on the opening day.

The mobile planetarium concept was developed by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi as part of its objective to popularise science education through various modules. It uses a high-definition digital projector to provide an impressive cinema experience to explain concepts in space science and explore the universe. The dome accommodates 25 pupils at a time. With a series of shows, this planetarium provides a fascinating insight into astronomy and space science, as well as classroom based lessons following the national curriculum. Entry to Planetarium was free and open to all school students.

Vice President(Operations) of IMFA, Therubali Mr Dhananjaya Senapati who inaugurated the planetarium said "This mobile planetarium will give the students of Rayagada district a chance to learn about space and celestial events. The Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (CSR wing of IMFA), is committed to bringing knowledge enhancing programmes for the school children of this area, so as to give them equal opportunity'".

Speaking at the inaugural session NCSTC scientist Dr. R.N.Ray said the 'Taramandal' would benefit the students learn origin of space, star, their distance from earth and movements. Explaining the scope of Taramandal he added planetarium can be useful in the study of celestial sphere, diurnal motion, circumpolar stars, Constellations, seasonal stars and the change of sunrise ans sunset points. About 640 districts in our country have joined the National Child Science Congress and taken the benefits.

Among others Secretary of Chinmaya Vidyalaya Dr. R N Murty and Principal Ms Indira also spoke and thanked Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation along with NCSTC, New Delhi and BJGVS, Bhubaneswar for organising the first ever mobile planetarium in Rayagada.

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Mr Kishore Mohan Mohanty
Bhubaneswar
email: kishoremohanty@imfa.in