The Nehru Planetarium has a fresh batch of students-visitors learning how to tell the time by reading a sundial

Telling the time of day without using a watch hardly appears possible in the city that never sleeps, but that’s exactly what visitors are learning at the Nehru Planetarium, Worli. A new “Shadowdial” or a modern sundial has taken up the task of educating people about the importance shadows play in our daily lives. With a shadowdial, one can tell the time by interpreting the angle at which a shadow casting element (or a gnomon) moving under the sun casts its shadow. But its purpose doesn’t end there: it has also taken up the more daunting task of making science, maths and astronomy fun for kids.

“We chose to build this sundial this year because it is also the International Astronomy Year. While we wanted Mumbaikars to get a taste of history, the more challenging aspect was to make sure kids get out of their classrooms and have some fun learning maths, trigonometry and geometry,” says Suhas Satam, programme coordinator at the Nehru Planetarium. The Planetarium kickstarted its “sundial” workshop this week and had its first session. The first workshop was open for kids from Std VIII to X.

“Learning how to tell time is a tough task for growing kids, but the process can be simplified using a sundial. Apart from that, the new sundial has become an attraction for more visitors,” said director of the planetarium, Piyush Pandey.

... contd.