Aug 18, 2014 - 1 min read

The Sendai Astronomical Observatory

A mid-summer's eve amongst the stars

By Radica Sooknarine

Community writer

A glimpse of the planets overhead. They are all lined up and created to scale so you have a remarkable view of their size differences.

The lawn is just as interesting as the interior of the building.

This is a side view of the moon showing a piece of the side we are accustomed to seeing, and a glimpse of the side we don't see. My mind automatically thinks of the Transformers Dark of the Moon movie!

Before the show started, I was able to get this shot inside the hybrid optical-digital planetarium. This is but a quadrant of the actual view. It was a grand finale as they showed what the night sky would look like if there were absolutely no type of pollution to block the stars' visibility. It's truly an unforgettable sight and totally worth seeing.

Here, you can see sunspots. Unfortunately, it was a very cloudy day so seeing actual sunspots from the sun on that day wasn't possible. However, there were images of what the sunspots would usually look like.

One of the very captivating glowing pieces on display.

This display represents the "Earth Orbital Calendar". It was a very ingenious way to show the time it takes for the earth to orbit the sun. The outer circle on this display is marked with numbers so you can do a count.

Ever wondered about the stars that we see? Learn all about them here.

I bet you'd never guess this is a table top.

This display is entitled "Touch the Constellations." Touch the screen and learn about the constellations, or touch the bottom options to find out where those constellations are located.

This beauty greets you as you enter the building.

Since the lawn reflects the solar system, it's very possible the circle of rocks represents the Kuiper Belt.

One of the circular slabs representing the planets. This one is the Earth.

This fascinating machine is a 1.3m Cassegrain telescope. From afar, it looks like a robot.

A glimpse of the lens as the machine revolved around the room.

Some of the goodies on sale at the souvenir shop.

Why not get a "Space Blanket" and sleep like the astronauts do?

Space Ice Cream!! Where else are you going to get this?

The Sendai Astronomical Observatory is an amazing place to learn more about the Solar System and beyond in a very interesting way. There are hands-on activities that allow you to experience and see certain things for yourself. The technology available at the Observatory is state of the art and very impressive. You even have the opportunity to do some star-gazing using the 1.3m Cassegrain Telescope. So powerful is this baby, that star gazing is possible during the day (provided it's not overcast). Whether you're interested in the History of Astronomy, finding out the closest point near your hometown to seeing an Aurora, or just relaxing to some enchanting music while star gazing in the Planetarium, this place has it all.

The observatory can be accessed via bus from Sendai or Ayashi, and it is a wonderful way to pass an afternoon. I highly recommend a visit here, especially on a clear day so you can check out the stars with that amazing telescope.

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By Radica Sooknarine

Community writer

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Radica Sooknarine Photographer 10 years ago

@Laura definitely! There are some hands-on activities for kids and a lot of the exhibitions (I think) are presented in such a way that adults and kids alike will be able to understand what they are trying to explain. The highlight for me though was the planetarium. The seats recline so you just lie back and enjoy the stars to some beautiful music...