Thane, March 31 A privately-run planetarium is set to be inaugurated in Shahpur, Thane district, Maharashtra, on April 5.
Named "Space Astrotainment" and the "Shahapur Astro-Physics Observatory (SAPO)", it is said to be the first planetarium in the district.
Spanning 3.5 acres at a high-altitude location in Sakadbhav, the facility aims to foster interest in astronomy among students and the general public. It is the brainchild of brothers Nilesh and Girish Thakur.
It will be inaugurated at 5 pm on Sunday by senior astronomer and educator D K Soman and MLA Daulat Daroda.
"We have built an innovative 56-seat planetarium featuring a high-end projection system that offers shows in Marathi, Hindi, and English. The observatory is a key highlight, featuring a retractable roof and four state-of-the-art telescopes mounted on concrete pillars," Nilesh Thakur said.
The facility is expected to provide one of the premier stargazing experiences in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Visitors can clearly view Saturn's rings, Jupiter's belts and moons, and the Milky Way.