Open Day at Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru on February 21

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru will celebrate National Science Day as IIA Open Day on February 21, from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. at its campus in Koramangala. This event is open to everyone, there is no entry fee, and prior registration is not required.

The institute will showcase a large number of demonstrations and interactive experiments on astronomy and basic physics, along with films, photographs, and walk-through exhibits about research at IIA and space sciences.

Many external organisations, like the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, VITM, and amateur astronomy groups, as well as a number of astronomy entrepreneurs will be setting up stalls for visitors, according to IIA.

Major highlights include a tethered balloon demo, optics lab laser experiments, viewing sunspots and solar spectra, exhibits on Gaganyaan, ancient Indian astronomy instruments, multi-wavelength astronomy, atmospheric and optics phenomena, a walkthrough space corridor, interaction with scientists, to-scale solar system, measuring size of the Sun, a room for astronomy games for children, IIA archives with artefacts from the 1700s, sale of astronomy merchandise, and a science treasure hunt. There will be exhibits by the Survey of India in the adjacent campus.

There will be a public talk in Kannada on the solar system at 11 a.m. by Pavan Gramapurohit, a Kannada science play at 12.30 p.m., and a talk by Annapurni Subramaniam on merging stars at 3 p.m. in English. Periodic tours of all exhibits in Kannada will also be organised.

Visitors can avail of limited parking inside the Survey of India quarters, Gate 2, next to Union Bank.