Bhubaneswar, March 4: The Regional Science Centre will organise special sky-watching programmes for students and public on March 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 6 to 7 pm.

The programme aims at popularising the habit of sky watching and exploring stars and planets. It will spread awareness about astronomy and astrophysics.

During the special programme, largest planet of the solar system Jupiter and its surroundings, the brightest planet of the solar system Venus, Orion Nebula, Pleiades Cluster (popularly known as seven sisters), details of craters of moon and the brightest star within the Earth's star system Sirius would be viewed. Sirius is also known as the 'dog star' as it remains in the sky near the Canis Major or 'Big dog' constellation.

RSC project coordinator Archana Khosla said: "We hold regular programmes for sky-watching, but these four Sundays are special as students can come here and watch the sky."

In-charge of the public display of the telescope at RSC, Himansu Sekhar Satpathy said: "The regional centre is aiming at attracting more visitors to its campus so that everybody can get a knowledge about sky-watching."

Satpathy said any educational institution wanting to come with larger groups of students were welcome to discuss about the suitable timing for their visit.

After the success of the Mars mission, he said, many students are now interested to know more about space research and engineering. "We have to orient the little ones from their formative age. Parents should take the lead in bringing their children to the centre,"

Sibadutta Kar, a visitor to the centre, said: "Many models on the origin of the universe and the solar system at RSC are self-explanatory and after seeing the telescope, students can also imagine more things and also clear their doubts."

Neelam Mohanty, a student of DAV Public School, Pokhariput, said: "I have visited the centre but yet to see the telescope. This time I will go there with my father to see the stars, planets and nebula."

Besides the telescope and several models on the universe and solar system, there was an inflatable 'taramandal' show at the RSC where visitors can have a feel of a mini planetarium.

To observe World Water Day on March 22, the centre is going to hold an interactive session on drinking water quality as the entire state is now reeling under jaundice menace.