Jakarta Planetarium, Planetarium and observatory in Cikini, Jakarta, Indonesia
The Jakarta Planetarium is an observatory in the Taman Ismail Marzuki complex in Cikini that offers astronomy education programs and evening sky viewing for visitors. The white dome houses projection equipment that casts images of celestial bodies onto a curved interior surface, creating the feeling of sitting under the open sky.
President Sukarno approved construction of this facility in 1964 as part of a cultural education center in the capital. Governor Ali Sadikin inaugurated the building in 1968, making it the first planetarium in the country.
Visitors hear shows in Indonesian and English that explain constellations visible from the Southern Hemisphere and navigation traditions used by sailors across the archipelago. School groups fill the theater on weekdays while families come during weekends to learn about the night sky.
Shows under the dome last around 45 minutes and run several times a day, with weekend slots popular among families. Visitors should choose clear evenings for telescope sessions, as cloudy skies limit what can be seen.
The exhibition room displays space suits and lunar rock samples behind glass, showing children how astronauts work in orbit. Visitors can also see models of satellites that Indonesia uses for communication and weather forecasting.
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