The M. P. Birla Planetarium started functioning from September 29, 1962 as an
educational, scientific and research institution and was formally inaugurated on
July 2, 1963 by the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. This
was the second major Planetarium to be set up in the commonwealth countries with
London having a Planetarium a few years earlier to the one in Calcutta then.
This was the first of its kind in India and the largest in Asia. Syt. M. P.
Birla was the driving force behind this project. The Planetarium has been
established on a land (about an acre) leased by the West Bengal Government. The
Planetarium with all its assets had been transferred to the Registered Society
of “Birla Institute of Fundamental Research”.

The M. P. Birla Planetarium, since its inception, has designed and presented to
the public and students more than 350 astronomical projects dealing with many
facets of astronomy, astro-physics, Celestial Mechanics, Space Science, History
of astronomy,Centenaries of famous Astronomers as well as mythology concerning
stars and planets. The Planetarium has also been conducting a series of graded
school programmes for children of various age groups. Almost from the very
beginning of this institution, it has been conducting a Free Evening Course in
Astronomy. In the year 1993 it introduced a Post-Graduate Diploma Course in
Astronomy & Planetarium Sciences. In the year 1999 the Planetarium joined hands
with the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani and introduced a new
course called the M. Phil. Course in Astronomy & Planetarium Sciences.

The M. P. Birla Planetarium has been hosting and participating in several
National and International seminars in astronomy and connected fields and has
been regularly organizing astronomical expeditions for the studies of Solar
Eclipses and other Celestial events. The Planetarium has also been organizing
special lectures and exhibitions in connection with centenaries of astronomers
like Galileo, Kepler, Tycho Brahe and others. The Planetarium owns an
astronomical observatory equipped with a Celestron C-14 Telescope with
accessories such as ST6 CCD Camera, Solar Filter etc.

The Planetarium has been regularly bringing a scientific Journal called “The
Journal of M. P. Birla Planetarium” wherein appear contributed articles from
astronomers from India as well as from abroad. An editorial board has been
suitability set up for the assessment and sensibility of the articles received
for publication. In recent years, the Planetarium has also brought out some
astronomical publications like “Bust Stories”, “A Brief Introduction of
Astronomy”, yearly astronomical pocket-calendars and picture post-cards etc. The
M. P. Birla Planetarium was chosen as the venue for the 7th International
Planetarium Directors’ Congress in 1980. Several planetarium directors from all
over the world attended this conference and participated in deliberations.Please
also visit the website:President’s Page

The Planetarium is equipped with an Electronics Laboratory for design and
fabrication of scientific equipment. In 1993, after two years of work, this lab
set up an Automation System for excecuting the special effects and visuals
during a planetarium show. One must come and have a look to the Planeterium
begore giving their views.

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