With an aim to create awareness on solar science and astrology among the students of western Odisha, a planetarium has been set up in Sambalpur. Earlier, the students used to get knowledge about the celestial world through books but now they will get a practical view of solar system, galaxies and the universe.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Planetarium at Sambalpur’s Burla is the first planetarium in western Odisha and second in the state after Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar. The planetarium is constructed by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) at a cost of Rs 5.60 crore.
The planetarium at Burla, constructed by Idco, has won the 10th CIDC India Vishwakarma Award, 2018 under “Best Archived Project” category.
Rakesh Sahu, the assistant engineer of the planetarium spoke to Orissa POST regarding the footfall. He said, “Billed as the first in western Odisha and second in the state, the planetarium has witnessed a footfall of about 1,77,983 visitors while the Science and Evolution Park on its premises registered an attendance of 2,59,563 ever since the facility was thrown open by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik September 22, 2017.
When asked whether the shows in Pathani Samantha Planetarium and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Planetarium are different or same, Sahu replied, “Compared to Bhubaneswar planetarium we have tried to keep a few shows different. We have tried to inculcate knowledge and create awareness on solar science and astronomy among the students. Short films on moon and mars missions were shown to the students.”
“We are happy with the response of the public and there are instances when we have recorded footfalls beyond our expectations. People of all age groups are coming here. When it comes to revenue, on one single day, that is December 17, 2017, the collection of the planetarium was around Rs 84,950 and 66,000 from the Science and Evolution. On that particular day, 27 shows were done,” Rakesh added.
The assistant engineer also informed that the number of visitors substantially increased during the last tourist season and from October to February the planetarium witnessed a good footfall.
It is the hybrid technology that has been used in the planetarium, which has features of both opto-mechanical and digital view. The digital system helps in better projection of animated movie while the opto-mechanical brings about sharp focus.
The Science and Evolution Park is developed by Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC). Close to 86 gadgets and models, including Newton’s third law, angular momentum, mass and inertia, centrifugal force, friction and speed, projectile, gravity ball, musical tubes, play with mirrors, planetary motion and DNA model have been installed in the park.
Similarly, at least 31 models, including Neanderthal man, Archaeopteryx, Megaloceros (Giant Deer), Proconsul (Chimpanzee), Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Triceratops small and motorised movement-enabled dinosaur have been installed in the Evolution Park. Both the projects were developed at a cost of Rs 15.45 crore.
The planetarium and the park are not only attracting people from within the state; in fact people from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have visited to explore the beauty of Sambalpur.
Shabiha nur Khatoon, OP
