NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Astronomy is the mother of all sciences, which studies fascinating celestial objects like stars, planets & other heavenly bodies. This exciting science is best learnt by use of ‘Planetariums’ which are large dome shaped projection screens 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’. Schools all over the country take their students on educational tours to these planetariums, which are owned by Government. It is therefore a matter of great pride for the tri-city that Dikshant International School, has become the first school in India to have done the ground work for setting up a fixed digital planetarium at its school campus in Zirakpur.
Says Mr. Mitul Dikshit, Chairman, Dikshant International School, “In the School’s Planetarium, which is being set up with support of Inter University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCCA), Pune, the facility to watch celestial scenes very effectively, under the school’s practical oriented system of education, will be available. Students will get a feel of the pulsating stream of Astronomy, watch the night sky or simply train in celestial navigation. The Planetarium will give easy & regular access to students in Astronomy.”
It is noteworthy that the school has tied up with Digitalis, a US based Company & a world leader in Digital Planetariums for an 8-metre fixed dome Planetarium. The dome has a seating capacity of 90 children. This has a gamut of advanced tech features – which include high-Definition projection with a capacity to boast 120,000 bright stars, zooming, built in audio system, automatic physical outline etc. What’s more, the Delta 3 Digitalis projection system with advanced proprietary Digitalis Fish Eye Lens which is used for superb digital projection quality, is being upgraded to the ‘New Generation Nightshade software ‘ & this will be made available exclusively for the Planetarium at Dikshant. Adds Mr. Dikshit, “Our students will not have to travel outstation to see a Planetarium. Ever since India’s Chanderyan mission to the moon and more recently the MOM to Mars, the interest level of the Nation in the Cosmos has developed tremendously. We will gradually also allow students of other schools to make use of this unique infrastructure in the field of Astronomy.”
Students will get an environment where they can enjoy a journey of exploration through the vast cosmos to which we all belong & fill the gap of astronomy in the education system, motivate students to pursue science as a hobby and career. The course material will be tailored for each age group. Under this students will observe & identify stars, constellations, witness the night sky in different seasons etc.
