B.M. Birla Planetarium Sky Observation and Amateur Astronomy Programmes
by GPBAASRI B.M. Birla Science Centre
Certificate on course completion
Year-round telescope viewing at the G P Birla Observatory, planetarium sky shows and hands-on astronomy workshops for students in Hyderabad.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹75 for observatory sky viewing, ₹250 for a planetarium show, ₹2,500 for the 7-day course
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Year-round programme: observatory viewing every evening from sunset to 8:00 PM, planetarium shows of 35 to 40 minutes, and a seven-day weekend astronomy course.
Eligibility
Open to visitors aged four and above; children below four are not admitted to planetarium sky shows. Observatory sky observation and the Sunday science workshops are open to everyone with no stated age limit. Summer Science Workshop batches were run for ages 6 to 13. The seven-day Introductory Course on Amateur Astronomy is restricted to participants aged 18 and above. No prior science background is required and there is no residency restriction.
- Age range
- 4 years and above
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- No prior science background or previous astronomy experience is required.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Certificate
Certificate on course completion
Certificates are awarded on successful completion of the seven-day Introductory Course on Amateur Astronomy, and e-certificates are issued to every participant of the science workshops.
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Enrollment
- Open all year
B.M. Birla Planetarium, Hyderabad, Telangana
How to apply
- 1Buy a planetarium or combo ticket at the centre reception
- 2Walk in to the observatory between sunset and 8:00 PM for telescope viewing
- 3Register online through the Google form linked on the course page when a batch is announced
- 4Pay the course or workshop fee by QR code or online banking after batch confirmation
- 5Schools book group visits by calling the centre booking line
Rules and guidelines
- Children below four years are not admitted to planetarium sky shows
- Observatory viewing runs only when sky conditions are clear
- Direct sun gazing is prohibited; solar sessions use supplied safety equipment
- The centre is closed on the last Thursday of every month
- Astronomy course participants submit a project or presentation on the final day
Fees and financial support
Fee details
Prices per head in INR: G P Birla Observatory sky viewing 75 (6:30 to 8:00 PM, subject to a clear sky); B M Birla Planetarium show 250; planetarium and science museum combo 400; jumbo ticket with the art gallery 500; school groups of at least 50 students 150 for the planetarium. On full moon nights extra telescopes are set up for free public viewing. The 7-day Introductory Course on Amateur Astronomy, open to college students and the general public, costs 2,500, paid by QR code or online banking once the batch is confirmed.
About this opportunity
The B.M. Birla Science Centre runs a year-round astronomy programme built around telescope viewing at the G P Birla Observatory, full-dome planetarium sky shows and hands-on workshops that teach students how to read the night sky.
The observatory is open to the public every evening from sunset until 8:00 PM, subject to sky conditions, with a C11 telescope donated by the Uranoscope of Paris trained on the Moon, the planets and deep sky objects such as the Orion Nebula in winter. On full moon nights each month the centre brings out additional telescopes for free public viewing and holds an astronomy talk at 7:30 PM in an adjoining classroom.
Alongside the observatory, the planetarium runs a 35 to 40 minute full-dome show in English, Hindi and Telugu, and the centre holds short science workshops in which children build sundials, planispheres, refractor telescopes and spectroscopes and take them home. Solar observation sessions are run with supplied safety equipment during solstice and zero shadow day activities.
A separate seven-day Introductory Course on Amateur Astronomy, taught across weekends and closing with a participant project, is restricted by the centre to participants aged 18 and above. Certificates are issued for the workshops and for the course.
What your child will do
- Telescope viewing of the Moon, planets and deep sky objects
- Free full moon night viewing with an astronomy talk
- Full-dome planetarium show on the history of the universe
- Building sundials, planispheres, refractor telescopes and spectroscopes
- Safe solar observation on solstice and zero shadow days
Mentors and faculty
Sessions are led by the centre's scientific officers and planetarium staff, with guest experts for the astronomy course discussions.
Languages
Academic details
Difficulty: Introductory
What's covered
Covers constellation identification, celestial coordinate systems, the motion of the Sun, Moon and planets, telescope optics and mounts, and the light spectrum, with hands-on instrument building and telescope sessions.
Frequently asked questions
What should participants expect on an observatory evening if the sky is cloudy?
The G P Birla Observatory opens only when sky conditions are good. On cloudy evenings telescope viewing is called off, so a visit planned around the telescope alone is best confirmed with the centre by phone beforehand.
How much weekend time does the seven-day amateur astronomy course ask for?
The course runs two hours on Saturday evenings from 5:00 PM and two hours on Sunday mornings from 11:00 AM across seven sessions, and closes with a project or presentation prepared by the participant.
Do students need a science background before joining these astronomy programmes?
No. The centre states that no previous experience or science background is required. Sessions begin from constellation identification and basic telescope handling, and course instruction is in English.
What do children take away from the hands-on science workshops?
Participants build and keep working instruments such as sundials, planispheres, refractor telescopes and spectroscopes, and every participant receives a certificate after the workshop.
Is there a way to look through a telescope without buying a ticket?
Yes. On full moon nights each month the centre sets up additional telescopes for free public viewing and holds an astronomy talk at 7:30 PM in a classroom next to the observatory.
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