Tech Dome Penang a world of science and technology

By Ong Yih Hwa

Penang’s first science discovery centre, Tech Dome, has added two brand new additions – the PIXO Observatory and Gaming Zone – since its opening in July 2016.

One of the telescopes has been placed at PIXO Tech Dome Penang’s Observatory to navigate Star-Charts and Almanacs.

The PIXO Observatory is the home to the largest telescope in Penang and a focal meeting point of the Astronomical Society of Penang. The gaming zone, on the other hand, is an informative display of the video gaming world, from Magnovax Odyssey to Sony’s latest Playstation.

Arcade has been attracting several numbers of visitors from different ages to participate.

Dr Khong Yoon Long, CEO of Tech Centre Penang, says the Tech Dome attracts all who are young and young-at-heart to explore many different things the discovery centre has to offer.

If you are interested in astronomy, you should definitely visitTech Dome’s PIXO observatory as there are two very powerful telescopes available to learn about the mysteries of the stars, planets and galaxies.

The solar telescope is used to observe the sun while the other telescope is used to observe the stars and moon after sundown ..

A close-up view of the solar through the solar telescope.

“There is no specific perfect timing to see the sun or planets. It fully depends on the weather;’ says Dr Khong. Observatory tour is available on Saturdays and Sundays. There are only two sessions per day at 2pm and 4pm. Each session lasts between 30 to 45 minutes and only between 15 and 20 people are allowed to attend per session.

An exhibition of earlier game console displayed in Tech Dome’s game zone.

The gaming zone focuses on the history of video games. Tech Dome also has demo models of video game consoles from 1977, which will prove exciting for serious gamers. Inside a Game Studio at the Gaming Zone details how complex it is to make video games in the past as it takes up to a few hundred people to work on it. 

Tech Dome Penang, located at Level 4 in KOMTAR Tower, also promotes interactive learning and hands-on learning through activities on topics like electromagnetism, force and motion, robotics, information technology and many more. 

A brief description on the history of game evolution started from earlier to current generation.

As Tech Dome is a non-profit organisation, it is looking for volunteers who loves science and can help other visitors learn more about the attractions available. 

Tech Dome is open daily from 10am to 6pm and closes on Tuesdays.

Entrance tickets can be purchased online at techdomepenang.org or at the ticketing counter on level 4 KOMTAR.