Enchanting Kerala

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Priyadarshini Planetarium, Thiruvananthapuram

National Science Day is celebrated every year on February 28 to popularize the importance of science as it comes into play in the daily life of the people. The day commemorates the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman in 1928.

A simple and effective way to realize the value of science and to know about its various features, specialties and discoveries is to pay a visit to Kerala State Science and Technology Museum Complex in Thiruvananthapuram district. An autonomous organization, the centre aims to inculcate a sense of inquiry and scientific temperament in the minds of the young. Located in the heart of the city, the museum has various galleries on electricity, electronics, power and motion mechanics with over 300 exhibits. Besides that, visitors we can view galleries on Popular Science, Mathematics, Automobile, Biomedical Engineering, Computer and Solar Energy, a Science Park, a Mobile Science Exhibition Unit. 

The museum complex is popular among school, college students and also the general public. To increase awareness of science and technology, it conducts classes on a regular basis for students. 

While exploring the museum complex one attraction that we cannot miss is Priyadarshini Planetarium. Opened in 1994 to the public, Priyadarshini Planetarium is one of the most versatile planetariums in the country. If you want to have a glimpse of the sky and beyond it, then is the go-to place. 

The first hybrid planetarium in India with tilted dome, it has can project the latest updates on astronomical science, including photographs, and can present live astronomy classes as well as edutainment film shows. 

There is a main GM-11 starfield projector here and it can project most of the constituents of the visible universe. The projector can stimulate the star-studded night sky over any location on the earth.

The museum offers a chance for us to observe the night sky through an automatic telescope. If you are coming down tothe planetarium on Thursdays and Fridays between 6:30 pm and 8 pm, you can observe planets, nebulae and stars, and also see the working of Ham Radio stations.

Getting There
Nearest railway station: Thampanoor, about 3 km 
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 6 km 

Contact
Kerala State Science and Technology Museum & Priyadarsini Planetarium
Vikas Bhavan P.O.
Thiruvananthapuram - 33
Phone: +91 471 2306024, 2306025 or 2304286.
Email: directorksstm@gmail.com
Website: www.kstmuseum.com