The inflatable planetarium can accommodate 35 kids

"We have taken this project to the north-east, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and the interiors of Maharashtra. This is, however, the first time we have set it up in Mumbai because the city already has the Nehru Planetarium," says Abhijit Shetye, managing director of Infovision, a city-based company speacialising in digital planetarium shows in India. The idea of a mobile set-up, he informs, came to fruition at the behest of renowned astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar, who was keen on taking science to children. While the response, Shetye says, is positive in other cities, having a planetarium with a curated film festival in their neighbourhood is an exciting prospect for Mumbaikars, too. As he informs us about the project, we see parents walk in to make enquiries, call up their kids to check which show they would like to watch, and buy tickets.

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Abhijit Shetye

The films — Cosmic Life, the story of a boy who wants to be an astronomer; Dinosaurs at Dusk, about a father and daughter who share a fascination for all things that fly; Invaders of Mars, made under the supervision of Emmy award-winning space artist, Don Davis, on the ongoing exploration of Mars, among others — have been scripted by the Nehru Planetarium and planetarium show exhibitors from the US and Netherlands.

Aryan Singh

Inside the dome, there is pin-drop silence. For 13-year-old Aryan Singh, who has a keen interest in science and has been to the Worli planetarium, the show Cosmic Life is more of a revision. But it's "informative and interactive" nevertheless. The humidity seems to get to the parents accompanying the kids, for the cooler doesn't do much to combat the heat. But beads of sweat mean nothing to the little ones, who have stars, supernovas and galaxies for company on a Tuesday afternoon.

TILL May 31, 10 am to 5 pm
AT IES School, Gate no. 2, Dadar East.
CALL 9820251551
Entry Rs 50 to Rs 120

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