GUWAHATI, Aug 22 - The Guwahati Planetarium is celebrating its silver jubilee with a year-long programme with Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurating the celebrations on August 17, according to a press release issued here today.
In his speech Dr Sarma lauded the role of the Guwahati Planetarium in stimulating curiosity among the visitors on different aspects of astronomy and space sciences during the last 25 years and inspiring a large number of people. He said the State government is keen on setting up more such planetariums in different districts of the State in order to generate awareness and education on the mysteries of the grand design and panorama of astronomy and space sciences on a broader canvas.
Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta in his address lauded the role of the Guwahati Planetarium in popularising astronomy. He stressed phase-wise setting up of science centres and planetariums in all the districts of the State so that people in general and children and students in particular, can cultivate a deep interest in different facets of science, including space and astronomical sciences. He said the science centres and planetariums under construction in Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur and Nalbari would be completed during the silver jubilee year of the Guwahati Planetarium.
Guest of honour Dr Debi Prasad Duari spoke about the frontiers of astronomy and space sciences at the global level. He highlighted the important role played by astronomers and space scientists of the country.
Dr Duari, who is Director of the MP Birla Planetarium, Kolkata, enlightened the audience with an audio-visual illustrated speech on apace and astro sciences.
Dr Arup Kumar Mishra, Director, ASTEC, gave a brief account of the successive phases of the growth and development of the Guwahati Planetarium.
Earlier, Planetarium Director Kimnei Changsan welcomed the dignitaries and the audience. She informed that a series of special lectures by renowned astronomers, scientists, as well as competitions and programmes among children and students would be conducted during the silver jubilee year.
Changsan also informed the gathering that an astronomy gallery and a virtual reality zone at the initiatives of Creative Museum Designers, Kolkata and IIT Guwahati respectively, would be set up at the Guwahati Planetarium shortly.
Meanwhile, the sky-watching programme of the Planetarium that has been going on since August 17, will continue till September 30. Under the programme visitors can view planets Jupiter and Saturn through the telescope daily from 6 pm to 7 pm, the press release added.
