National Planetarium

There is much more than what meets the eye in Kuala Lumpur and the building structure of National Planetarium proves this point to a great extent. A visit to

the Planetarium in Malaysia will make you come face to face with the world of cosmos right here on earth itself! Situated atop the Lake Garden hills, it reveals the efforts taken by the government of Malaysia to create awareness and trigger an interest in the area of space science and studies. Locally the National Planetarium is known as Planetarium Negara.

Among the daily schedules and programs of the National Planetarium, the screening of Sky and Space Movie is a regular feature. The National Planetarium is also a proud owner of a 14-inch telescope. Many latest types of equipment are housed in this amazing planetarium. Not only popular for space science studies but the planetarium is also well known for fascinating astronomy exhibitions. Besides acquiring knowledge, the planetarium is also a fun way to spend time with family or all by yourself while your stay in Kuala Lumpur.

The National Planetarium was inaugurated and opened for public viewing on 7th February 1994. Following its endeavor of sending the first astronauts to space in the new millennium, the role of Planetarium Negara or the National Planetarium has been encouraging. This has certainly placed Malaysia in the league of the developing countries waiting to reach the stars by promoting space science.

The building structure of the National Planetarium is really interesting. From a distance, the blue dome and the minaret formation can be mistaken for being a

mosque. It is built on 32 acres of land and is owned by Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Malaysia. The building area covers around 120,000 square feet.

The main attractions of the National Planetarium include Space Theater, planetarium presentations, space science fairs, ancient observatory park and not to forget the viewing gallery. There is a 'Merdeka Sun Clock' near the fountain area at the entrance. The clock acts as a Sundial and is a bowl like crescent shaped structure that tells accurate time.

In the main hall of the National Planetarium, permanent exhibits are placed. The Arianne IV space engine is a major display in this hall. It is one of the main engines that were used to launch MEASAT 1, first satellite of Malaysia into space. Heading towards the Observatory will allow the visitors to have a closer look of the heavenly bodies through the 14-inch telescope. The Planetarium extends to a space theme park which is linked with National Museum by an overhead pedestrian bridge.

Except for Fridays, the National Planetarium is open from Wednesday to Sunday. The visiting hours are between 10am - 4pm daily except for the Fridays. The Space shows are timed at 11am, 2pm, 4pm. For the adults, the charges are RM3 and for children it is RM2. For Space Movie- RM6 (Adults), RM4 (Children).

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