Shimmering stars closer to you - not an imagination but a reality.

Come Wednesday, Shrikrishna Science Centre, Patna, would offer pocket-friendly telescopes and binoculars to star gazers and science lovers. They would be spoilt for choice at the Science Shoppe, scheduled to be inaugurated in the old building. It would also stock low-cost scientific toys, robot kits, books and motors under a single roof.

Pradipta Mukhopadhyay, the project coordinator of Shrikrishna Science Centre, Patna, said: "I used to take feedback from the children and parents after sky observation shows. They have always enquired about good quality telescopes and binoculars. The markets in the city don't cater to such demand. And there, clicked the idea of the science shoppe."

"The Delhi science centre has placed orders for science souvenirs on our behalf to an Ahmedabad-based company. The shoppe will stock good quality pocket-friendly sciencific equipment such as telescopes priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 50,000. The science lovers, who want more expensive and better quality equipment, can place orders with us," he said.

The shoppe would also encourage the reading of scientific books among children. "There would be a dedicated corner for creative scientific minds where they would get books related to specific experiments of science, including robotics, machine and physics. We have a brochure of the book list. Students' suggestions are welcome ," said Mukhopadhyay.

The shoppe, which is supposed to be inaugurated in the new building, would be open from 10.30am to 6pm all seven days of the week on the ground floor of the old building.

Science lovers are ready with their shopping list. "I am really excited to know that finally I would get almost all the equipment for my projects. I used to buy all the equipment and the robotics parts from Delhi. Now I don't have to wait for the courier to arrive," said Tarun Sinha, a Class VII student of Radiant International School.

Kanishka Kashyap, who aspires to be an astronaut, loves sky observation. She plans to buy a high-quality telescope on her birthday. "My dad has promised to gift me a telescope. I found him really upset when the courier companies denied delivering it since it was highly fragile and expensive. I am glad that now I would get the telescope in Patna only," said Kanishka, a Class XI student of Notre Dame Academy.