Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre

**Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre**
হাওড়া তারামণ্ডল ও জ্যোতির্বিজ্ঞান গবেষণা কেন্দ্র
Established	2 December 2022;6 months ago
Location	Sarat Sadan, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
Coordinates	22°34′56″N88°19′53″E / 22.5822313°N 88.331262°E
Type	Planetarium museum
Owner	Howrah Municipal Corporation
Public transit access	Howrah railway station, Howrah Maidan metro station (under construction)

Last updated June 06, 2023

Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre commonly known as Howrah Planetarium is a planetarium in Howrah, West Bengal,^[1] that offers virtual tours of the night sky and cosmic shows in a specially perforated hemispherical dome.^[2] It is West Bengal's first 3D planetarium.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] This '4K' Planetarium is built on screening technology. A total of Rs 14 crores was spent on the construction of the planetarium or Taramandal.^[7] The planetarium conducts three shows every afternoon in Bengali, English and Hindi.

History

Background

Howrah and Kolkata are twin cities. The Hooghly River (a tributary of the Ganges) flows between the two cities, and the two cities are separated from each other by this river course with an average width of 500 meters. But despite the proximity of the two cities, while Kolkata has multiple entertainment options, Howrah is almost deprived. Howrah city does not have any state-of-the-art government theater except Sharat Sadan in Howrah Maidan area and Rabindra Bhavan in Bally, built during the Left regime. They were also dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. After the Trinamool Congress came to power in Howrah municipality in 2015, then mayor Rathin Chakraborty took up the plan to renovate Sarat Sadan. On the other hand, after the merger of Bally Municipality with Howrah, the Municipal Authority also started the renovation of the Rabindra Bhavan.^[8]

In 2015, Along with the renovation of Sarat Sadan, a plan was taken up to build another Planetarium technologically superior to the Birla Planetarium in Kolkata.^[8]

Construction

The construction of "Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre" was started in 2015 at a cost of Rs 14 crore with some land at Sarat Sadan theater premises.^[8]

Financial crisis and delay

A decision was taken to install a projection device from a specialist firm in France at the Planetarium. But, problems arose in this work, for which the work of planetarium was stopped for a long time. The problem was mainly the financial cost of setting up the instrument and the Term of contract with that company to maintain the planetarium.^[8]

Even after 10 months of completion of the work, the Howrah Municipal Corporation failed to pay the contractor. The company's receivable amounts from the Howrah Municipal Corporation were more than Rs.3.50 crores.^[8] As a result, the inauguration of planetarium was delayed.^[8] planetarium was inaugurated in October 2022, but due to technical problems it could not be opened for visitors.^[9]

Inauguration

The Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre was officially inaugurated in October 2022 by the Minister of Public Works and Urban Development, Firhad Hakim.^[3] It opened to public on 2 December 2022.

Description

The planetarium is built on Sarat Sadan, Howrah, West Bengal.^[1] The dome of the planetarium is 10 meters in diameter^[1] and the seating capacity 96 people. The structure was built in collaboration with the Howrah Municipal Corporation and a French company, and the planetarium displays night sky views for visitors through 3D projectors.^[6]

Features

A total of 3 shows are conducted a day in this planetarium to introduce visitors to the solar system. Visitors can also learn about important space discoveries and related information. Each show at planetarium is conducted for 25 minutes. Shows are available here in Bengali, English and Hindi.^[3]

Related Research Articles

Howrah is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River opposite its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively it lies within Howrah district, and is the headquarters of the Howrah Sadar subdivision. It is a part of the area covered by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. Howrah is an important transportation hub and gateway to Kolkata and West Bengal.

Ballygunge is a locality of South Kolkata in Kolkata district, West Bengal, India.

Rabindra Sadan is a cultural centre and theatre complex in Kolkata, India. It is located on Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road in South Kolkata. It is noted for its large stage which is a prime venue for Bengali theatre and Kolkata Film Festival.

The Maidan, also referred to as the Brigade Parade Ground, is a large public park and urban green space in the center of Kolkata, India. With a total area of 988 acres (4.0 km²), it is the largest urban public park in India. It is a vast stretch of field that includes numerous sporting grounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football stadiums and the Kolkata Race Course.

Uttarpara or Uttarpara Kotrung is a city and a municipality of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Uttarpara is located at 22.67°N 88.35°E, within 10 km from Kolkata, the capital of the state of West Bengal. It is located along the Hooghly river, across from the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Uttarpara is home to the Uttarpara Jayakrishna Public Library, Asia's oldest free public library.

Makardah is a census town in Domjur CD Block of Howrah Sadar subdivision in Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration.

Dankuni is a city and a municipality of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is now part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). It is considered posh area in Hooghly. It had an estimated population of 249,840 at the 2011 census. It has a suburban station on the Calcutta Chord link line of the Kolkata Suburban Railway.

Liluah is a neighbourhood in Howrah city of Howrah district, West Bengal, India. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Liluah has a railway junction, which is the first station after Howrah station under the Eastern Railway (India). Its history dates back to the British era when the Liluah Carriage and wagon Workshop was set up to release pressure off Howrah.

Belepole is a residential locality of Howrah, West Bengal, India. It is an urban sprawl which sprung up near the old localities of South Howrah, like Bhattacharjee Para, Chatterjeehat etc. It is located near Shibpur. It has excellent communication and transportation facilities owing to its location, its life line is Kona Expressway which connects it to the Vidyasagar Setu and hence Kolkata is just 15 minutes away. It is close to the State administrative building Nabanna.

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Bally Municipality is the body responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the town of Bally, West Bengal, India. Bally is a Municipality city in district of Howrah, West Bengal. The Bally city is divided into 35 wards for which elections are held every 5 years. Bally is the northern suburb of the city of Howrah. Bally Municipality was initially formed by separating it from Howrah Municipality in 1883. As of 2015 Bally Municipality had been re-merged with Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC). Bally Municipality was again separated from HMC on 12 November 2021.

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References

1 2 3 Kinsuk Basu (2 December 2022). "Howrah gets its own planetarium". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
↑ "Howrah Planetarium & Astronomical Research Centre". fddb.org. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
1 2 3 "দেশের প্রথম থ্রি-ডি তারামণ্ডলের দরজা খুলল হাওড়ায়, ১৪ কোটির প্রেক্ষাগৃহে টিকিটের দাম কত?". www.anandabazar.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
↑ "Howrah gets country's 1st 3D planetarium". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
↑ "India's 1st 3D planetarium inaugurated in Howrah". millenniumpost. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
1 2 "First 3D Planetarium of India coming up in Howrah this December". getbengal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
↑ "আজ খুলছে হাওড়ার থ্রি ডি তারামণ্ডল" (in Bengali). www.bartamanpatrika.com. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "'গ্রহের ফের', মহাকাশ দেখার সাধ অপূর্ণই" (in Bengali). www.anandabazar.com. Anandabazar. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
↑ "হাওড়ায় দেশের প্রথম থ্রি-ডি তারামণ্ডল, মহাকাশ চেনাবে ডিসেম্বরের প্রথম সপ্তাহ থেকেই" (in Bengali). www.anandabazar.com. Anandabazar. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

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[telegraphindia-1] 1 2 3 Kinsuk Basu (2 December 2022). "Howrah gets its own planetarium". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

[fddb-2] "Howrah Planetarium & Astronomical Research Centre". fddb.org. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

[anandabazar-3] 1 2 3 "দেশের প্রথম থ্রি-ডি তারামণ্ডলের দরজা খুলল হাওড়ায়, ১৪ কোটির প্রেক্ষাগৃহে টিকিটের দাম কত?". www.anandabazar.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

[indiatimes-4] "Howrah gets country's 1st 3D planetarium". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

[millenniumpost-5] "India's 1st 3D planetarium inaugurated in Howrah". millenniumpost. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

[getbengal-6] 1 2 "First 3D Planetarium of India coming up in Howrah this December". getbengal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

[bartamanpatrika-7] "আজ খুলছে হাওড়ার থ্রি ডি তারামণ্ডল" (in Bengali). www.bartamanpatrika.com. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

[Anandabazar-8] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "'গ্রহের ফের', মহাকাশ দেখার সাধ অপূর্ণই" (in Bengali). www.anandabazar.com. Anandabazar. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

[Anandabazar1-9] "হাওড়ায় দেশের প্রথম থ্রি-ডি তারামণ্ডল, মহাকাশ চেনাবে ডিসেম্বরের প্রথম সপ্তাহ থেকেই" (in Bengali). www.anandabazar.com. Anandabazar. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

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