It’s hard to argue that the best place to watch the sky in Chennai, as the evening breeze cools down the increasingly built-up city, is anywhere but the beach. And the experience becomes even more magical when a telescope brings the moon close enough to feel as if you’re sitting right next to it.

That is what Sharan hopes to offer at Marina Beach. A freelance architect by day, he packs his large white telescope into his car at dusk and heads to the shore for his “moon show.” His usual spot is opposite Vivekananda House. For ₹50, visitors get a chance to see the moon, stars, and occasionally even other planets when they are visible.

For Neethu, who peered through the telescope for the first time, it was a moment of wonder. “It was really good seeing the moon up close,” she said.

The telescope also caught the attention of Aarthi Murugan, a commerce student. Curious, she came closer to confirm what she had guessed from afar. “I’ve always liked the mysterious quality of space. When I was younger, I wanted to study aerospace engineering,” she recalled. “Looking through the telescope felt like I relived a small part of that childhood dream,” she added with a smile.

While stargazing is gaining momentum in Chennai, with a growing number of enthusiasts organising trips to suburban locations to spot celestial bodies, a telescope set up on the beach offers a chance for everyone to experience the wonders of the night sky.

Sharan also shares fascinating facts about space. He begins by asking if they’re interested in the sky and then slips in trivia. “Did you know the moon is 3.84 lakh kilometres away?” he asks. “The craters might look close to each other, but they are actually as far apart as, say, Delhi and Mumbai.” His audience listens, awe-struck. 

On a rare school-night outing, siblings Prithvi and Praneetha, accompanied by their mother, took turns at the telescope. “The price is reasonable. Not too high, not too low. Definitely worth it for kids to experience,” she said. As Prithvi took his first look at the moon, his wide-eyed “wow” summed up the awe and delight that this glowing celestial body inspires in all of us.