Birla Planetarium

Birla Planetarium features a fully computerized planetarium located in the Kotturpuram suburbs of Chennai city. The planetarium is an integral part of Periyar Science and Technology Centre, a premier institute in the southern state of India, Tamil Nadu. Birla Planetarium is situated on the Gandhi Mandapam Road with the nearest bus stop and railway station being Kotturpuram Bus Stop and Kotturpuram Railway Station. The bus station is about two kms north of the planetarium and the railway station about a kilometre in the north-east.

Birla Planetarium is a fully computerized planetarium featuring an audio video sojourn of the cosmic space. The planetarium started as a project in the year1988 and the establishment responsible for its inception was the famous Periyar Science and Technology Centre of Chennai. The planetarium was built in the memory of the leading industrialist and visionary of India, B.M. Birla. The planetarium hosts regular shows pertaining to the astronomy. The place, since its inception is a frequently visited place by tourists, students, environmentalists and people inclined to astronomy.

Provided with the state of art technology, the planetarium reproduces the celestial experience down here. The observatory features fully computerized projector and one of sophisticated pieces of technology, that is GM II projector. The audio video shows hosted by the institution elucidate comprehensive knowledge as well as personal experience of various cosmic phenomena. The planetarium provides an air conditioned complex with seating capacity for 236 persons at any given time. The complex also houses a sound studio, seminar hall and a class room. These places are provided for various interactions and discourses that are offered by the science centre. The popular exhibits of the centre include Solar System, Cycle of Stars, Sky and Seasons, Comets, Man on the Moon. If you are interested in catching the stars or have a look at the meteoroids then make it sure to visit the place on second Saturday of the week. The show featuring night watching is held between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.