INCREDIBLE INDIA : GANGA AARTI AT PARMARTH NIKETAN, RISHIKESH, INDIA

APJ Abdul Kalam Planetarium in Burla, SAMBALPUR, ODISHA, INDIA

On 22/09/2017 Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dedicated the Sambalpur planetarium named after former President and missile man APJ Abdul Kalam to the state and inaugurated the second planetarium of Odisha, at Burla in Sambalpur district. This is the first planetarium in western Odisha and second in the state after Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar. 

  A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation. Planetariums are the world's astronomy classrooms and theaters of public science education that have served perhaps a billion people during the past century

A dominant feature of most planetarium is the large dome-shaped projection screen onto which scenes of stars, planets and other celestial objects can be made to appear and move realistically to simulate the complex 'motions of the heavens'. The celestial scenes can be created using a wide variety of technologies, for example precision-engineered 'star balls' that combine optical and electro-mechanical technology, slide projector, video and full dome projector systems, and lasers. Whatever technologies are used, the objective is normally to link them together to provide an accurate relative motion of the sky

The planetarium has been set up with a purpose to create awareness on solar science and astrology among the students of Western Odisha. Students of western Odisha will be benefited by the facility. Earlier they used to only read about the solar system, galaxies, and the universe. Now they will get a practical view of the same. The construction of the planetarium had begun in 2014, while work on the science park was started in May 2017 at Burla

Scientific instruments are on display at the park to explain various theories to visitors in a simple way. Visitors will be both educated and entertained at the park.

The Plantetorium is around 15km away from the Sambalpur district headquarters town. Several educational institutes such as the Sambalpur University, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology and the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research are located in Burla town. Besides, the Indian Institute of Management and the Gangadhar Meher University are located nearby.

The town is also a well-known tourist place where the Hirakud dam is located. The science park is an added attraction for the students, who visit the planetarium. Besides, the park will also be helpful in attracting more tourists to Burla.