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Showing posts from 2009

Geminid Meteor Shower 2009 in Nepal

Winter School on Astroparticle Physics (WAPP 2009)

Mr. Sudeep Neupane and Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel, two brilient amateur astronomers and executive founder member of NASO left Kathmandu for the Winter School on Astroparticle Physics (WAPP 2009) which is being organized at Mayapuri ,Bose Institute, Darjeeling in association with TIFR, Mumbai during December 14-22, 2009 in Darjeeling. Mr. Sudeep Neupane and Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel are the students of Physics and doing their M.Sc. final year from Central Department of Physics,Tribhuvan University,Kirtipur,Kathmandu,Nepal. Mr. Neupane is the co-ordinator of Campaign Against Light Pllution (CALP)-Nepal which is innitiated on September,2009 as a special project of NASOand Mr. Pokhrel is co-ordinator of Outreach Dpartment of NASO. They will arrive Kathmandu on December 25,2009.

Talk Programme on Astronomy and Meteor Science on Nov 22,2009

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First row ( from left): Joe Malnar,USA;Jennifer Dudley Winter,Fred Bruenjes,Rishi Shah,Dr. Prakash Atreya and NASO Team.

November Sky:Meteor showers, mighty Jupiter and the Hunter's Moon

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-By Kedar S Badu This month, we have two meteor showers, the Hunter's Moon and Jupiter dominating the evening skies. But let's talk of the stars first. Along the Zodiac, from east to west, you can now observe the constellations Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Capricornus and Sagittarius. Just below Aries the Ram, enjoy the brilliant constellation Cetus the Whale, with its reddish, super giant binary star Mira, which will vary in brightness over successive nights. Note that the tail of Pisces the Fish points directly to Mira. Though summer has already given way to autumn, the well-known asterism of the Great Summer Triangle is still visible in the western skies. The Great Square (Pegasus) is just overhead. In the northern skies, you can easily identify the constellations Auriga the Charioteer, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco and Hercules from East to West. If you are away from dazzling city lights, enjoy the Milky Way, which stretches from the northeast to the southwest. Pre-dawn sta

Night Sky in November

-By Rishi Shah The night skies of this month delightfully display many fascinating planets, alluring stars and other captivating marvels of the heavens. As darkness descends enchanting zodiacal constellations of Sagittarius (archer), Capricornus (sea goat), Aquarius (water bearer), Pisces (fishes), Aries (ram) and Taurus (bull) are seen unfurling across the sky from western to eastern horizon. The great Square of Pegasus (winged horse) dominates the evening overhead sky. Attractive constellation Andromeda (chained princess) extends towards northeast from Pegasus, where the beguiling Andromeda Galaxy that is circa 2.5 million light-years away could be thrillingly observed. Constellations Cygnus (swan), Lyra (harp) and Aquila (eagle) drifting towards western sky. Their lustrous stars Deneb, Vega (Avijit) and Altair (Sravana) sketch imaginary winter triangle in the sky. Lengthy constellations Eridanus (river) and Hydra (sea serpent) are meandering in southeastern sky. Cetus (whale) and Pi

GN2009 was great success in Far West of Nepal!

Celebrating Galilean Nights (GN2009) in Nepal on October 23,2009!

Nepal Astronomical society(NASO) and Step- Nepal jointly organizes a talk programme followed by a star party to make people know know what Galileo had seen 400 years ago on Friday,October 23,2009 at Dhangadi. Programme Details: Title: Astronomical Awareness Venue: Dhangadi,Kailali,Nepal Date: Friday,23 October,2009 Time: 15:00 Hrs onwards Contact:+977-9841441402 ( Riwaj Pokhrel) Co-Organizer: Step- Nepal,Dhangadi and Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO,Kathmandu If you wish to participate in this grand celebration of Galilean Nights in Nepal ,please contact Step- Nepal or NASO immediately. Source: Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO),October21, 2009

The Nobel Prize In 2009

-By Rishi Shah The prestigious Nobel Prizes are awarded annually to those persons or institutions for having conferred the greatest benefit to mankind with their work in Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Peace. The prizes were established in 1895 in accordance with the will of a Swedish chemist, inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel who made great fortune with his invention of dynamite. Additionally, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel was instituted by Sweden’s Central Bank only in 1968. This year the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute granted the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. The trio American professors have unraveled the secrets of how the chromosomes can be copied during cell division and how they are safe-guarded against degradation. Lengthy thread-alike DNA m

October sky :If you're a fan of Star Wars, this is the month to check out the skies above

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The October constellations are a mixed bag. At sunset, the summer constellations glow in the west, but are outshone by the winter constellations after midnight. So just when you thought summer was finally behind us, these stars tell you: no, not quite yet. On the bright side, a lot of the constellations have vaguely Star Wars-esque names, so if you're a Lucas fan, this is the month to check them out. The Great Square, a constellation within Pegasus, will replace the Summer Triangle as the most prominent night constellation. Watch out for the distinctive W-shape of Cassiopeia in the north, and also Perseus nearby. The Andromeda Galaxy is very noticeable as a large bright elongated smudge, even through binoculars. If you have a telescope, you can catch sight of dust lanes in our nearest galactic neighbour (see star map). If you have binoculars, check out the rather stiffly named star cluster, M-15 (what did I tell you about Star Wars?). Don't worry: they're far more interesti

Star Peace Event on September 21 remains successful in Nepal!

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Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) in association with Takhshashila Academy organized a star party to observe Jupiter and its Moon this evening at Takshashila Academy,Bishalnagar,Kathmandu.The start party started at 17:30 Hrs NST with the introduction of Jupiter and its Moon and Star Peace Project.Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, Star Peace Ambassador for Nepal said the Avenues Television,"Today's Star party is tribute to the Galileo for the verification of Heliocentric Theory of our Solar System proposed my Nicolas Copernicus.We want to show people that we can spread Peace through astronomy in Nepal and in the world" Mr. Sudeep Neupane,Founder member of NASO and Event Manager of the today's Star Peace Event told the journalists that NASO is creating astronomical awareness in Nepal through different outreach and today's event was one of our regular event for celebration of IYA2009 in Nepal. Photo:Wonderful view of sunset as seen from Takshasila Academy ,the venue of Star Pea

Star Party to celebrate World Peace Day in Nepal !

Nepal Astronomical SOciety is organizing Star Party to celebrate World Peace Day on September 21,2009 in Nepal.This event is organized through out the world StarPeace colleague are going to draw a Peace Line on Earth.India,Bangladesh,maldives,Iran along with other eastern western countries like Brazil is participating in this event. To participate in the Star Peace Event in Nepal,Please contact the Star Peace Ambassador for Nepal Mr. Suresh Bhattarai. Programme Details: Programme: Star Peace Event to Celebrate World Peace Day in Nepal Venue:Takshashila Academy,Bishalnagar,Kathmandu,Nepal Date: September 21,2009 Time: 17:30 onwards Organizer: Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) Contact: +977-9841485867/9841388524 Email:info.naso@gmail.com September 21 is named International Day of Peace by the United Nations. Every year on this day people from many nations respect peace and a world without war. This day is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned

ICYA proves successfull to ceate global platform for the young people to meet each others reagarding astronomy

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Photo:Participant looking for the map to the venue of ICYA on the street. Photo:Great attention to the presenter! One of the participants presenting his paper. Photo:Discussion of the future plans to meet again! people at tea break. Credit:Ryan Laird,United Kindom

Astronomy In Nepalese Culture

- Rishi Shah & Suresh Bhattarai Astronomy has played a crucial role in the development of our civilisation and culture. Early astronomy involved observing the motions of visible celestial objects, especially the sun, moon, stars and planets visible to the naked eye. Their altering appearances in the course of the year were used to establish the agricultural or ritual calendar, which influenced the chores of our daily lives. In some cultures, astronomical data were misinterpreted equivocally for astrological prognostication. Indus Valley Civilisation (2600-1900 BC) had flourished around the Indus River basin in South Asia. Vedic civilisation had extended from the second millennia BC to the 6th century BC. The extensively astronomy-rich sacred texts of the Indo-Aryan civilisation were presumably compiled then. The Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent succeeded the late Harappan culture. The Neolithic age in China could be traced back as early as 10,000 BC. During the imperial era of t

ICYA 2009 kicks on today in Poland!

The International Conference of Young Astronomers (ICYA) which is a scientific meeting of undergraduate and PhD students of astronomy and physics as well as more advanced astronomers has started in Cracow Poland today.The conference will conclude on 13th September,2009. ICYA is organised by the Polish Astronomical Society in collaboration with Polish universities (The Jagiellonian University of Cracow, The University of Warsaw, The Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, The Nicolaus Copernicus University of Toruń, The University of Zielona Góra, The University of Szczecin, The Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences) and hopefully will be supported by foreign universities and astronomical societies as well as international astronomical organizations.

September surprise

-KEDAR S BADU If you look out the window this month and notice that the sun is setting in a different place every day, don't worry, the earth is not spiralling out of orbit: it's tilting toward the sun to welcome the season of autumn, beginning 23 September. This means a new set of stars and constellations will make their debut. A couple of hours after sunset, you will see the Milky Way stretching diagonally across the night sky (you may need to wait for a load-shedding night to see this). Make sure to pull out a set of binoculars and observe this band of stars because it contains some fantastic constellations. You will see the W-shaped Cassiopeia, the Great Summer Triangle, Sagittarius and Scorpios. In the eastern horizon, just below Cassiopeia, don't miss the constellations of Andromeda and the square-shaped Pegasus. The Big Dipper will be only partly visible in the north-western skies, but the kite-shaped Bootes and the man-shaped Hercules should be clear. There will be

Night Sky In September

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-By Rishi Shah The night skies of this month display numerous planets, countless stars and various arcane celestial entities that decorate the heavens enticingly. As darkness descends on earth, the zodiacal constellations of Virgo (maiden), Libra (scales), Scorpius (scorpion), Sagittarius (archer), Capricornus (sea goat) and Aquarius (water bearer) are seen sprawling across the sky from western to eastern horizon. Kite-resembling constellation Bootes (herdsman) dominates the evening sky with its alluring star Arcturus (Swati) that is barely thirty seven light-years away. Semi-circled constellation Corona Borealis (Northern Crown) and keystone-patterned Hercules (legendary strong man) are floating to its east. Petite constellations Canes Venatici (hunting dogs) and Coma Berenices (Berenices’ hair) are slipping towards western horizon. Constellations Cygnus (swan), Lyra (harp) and Aquila (eagle) are soaring magnificently in eastern sky. Their coruscating stars Deneb, Vega (Avijit) and Al

Galileo's telescope reaches 400th anniversary today!

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Nepal Academy of Science and Technology,NAST,Khumaltar,Lalitpur and Nepal Astronomical Society,NASO,Kathmandu jointly organized a talk programme on The Impact of Astronomy in Nepalese Civilization presented by Mr. Suresh Bhattarai,founder member of NASO, to mark the 400th Anniversary of Galileo's Telescope at NAST Hall during 11:30-13:30 Hrs. Photo: Mr. Suresh Bhattarai,founder member of NASO, presenting a talk on The Impact of Astronomy in Nepalese Civilization at NAST on 25th August,2009 to mark 400th Anniversary of Galileo's Telescope. Photo:participants paying attention to the talk to get more insight about Nepalese Astronomy and Civilization. It is 400 years since Galileo Galilei demonstrated his telescope, which would lead him to make new astronomical observations While many people have been loudly celebrating this year's double commemoration of 200 years since Charles Darwin's birth and 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species, another scien

TELESCOPE MAKING

-By Rishi Shah & Sudeep Neupane A telescope is a unique astronomical instrument that has been invented cleverly to observe and study remote objects. Its invention was subjected to sequence of events that cannot be assigned to an exact time or place. There are several written references to telescopic gadgets in ancient times, but no solid evidence as to their construction and use could be determined and verified. After the Phoenicians with enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean had discovered glass around 3500 BC, while cooking on sand, it took about five thousand years for glass to be shaped into lens for the telescope. Historically since avid spectacle (eyeglass) maker Hans Lippershey (1570-1619) had probably assembled the first practically functioning telescope, he is often credited with its invention. He had allegedly applied for patent for exclusive manufacturing of telescopes in 1608, but was denied, based on the argument that the devices we

Nepal Advocates Asian Contribution to the history of Astronomy in Astronomy and Civilization,Budapest,Hungary on 10th August,2009

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Photo: Founder member Suresh Bhattarai with Prof. Chandra Wikramasinghe,Director of the Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology,UK and he was a student and collaborator of Sir Fred Hoyle whose joint work on the infrared spectra of interstellar grains led to developing the modern theory of panspermia. Photo:Founder Member Suresh Bhattarai with Zoltan Toth,Bhakti Vedanta College,Budapest,Hungary. Photo:Mr. Suresh Bhattarai,Founder Member of NASO, with Prof. Menas Kafatos,Chapman University,Orange,California, USA. Photo:Mr. Suresh Bhattarai,Founder Member of NASO, with Prof.Subhash Kak,Oklahoma State University,USA. Photo:Mr. Suresh Bhattarai,Founder Member of NASO, with Atilla Grandpierre of Konkoly Observatory.He was Co-chair of the Symposium. Photo:Prof. Norman D. Cook,Kansai University,Oshaka,Japan with Triadic Insights in Astronomy,Art and Music. Photo: Alice Mary Williamson,London with The Contribution of Musical Theory to an Ancient Chinese Concept of the Universe. Photo:Budapest as seen f

Lunar Occultation of Antares Tonight!

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An interesting celestial event is within easy reach of a pair of binoculars or a small telescope, on the night of the 31st of July, from all over the country. The occultation of Antares by Moon occurs around 9:55 P.M. in Kathmandu while 9:52 P.M. in Bhairahawa,9:54 P.M.in Biratnagar,9:55 P.M. in Chandragadi,9: 53 P.M. in Janakpur, ,9:52 P.M. in Nepalganj and 9:53 P.M. in Simara. A Lunar occultation could be the passing of the Moon in front of any other distant celestial Object - a Planet, other Solar System objects, a distant Star, or a deep sky object. Of these, the passage of the Moon in front of the naked eye Planets or bright stars, is an event that is most accessible to people without any observing equipment.And tonight is the time for the bright star occultaion by Moon. The Star being occulted, is Jyestha or Antares - the brightest star in Scorpio. It glows with a reddish hue that gave it the name of Antares - or a rival to Mars or Aries. Moon has this tendency to repeat its occu

The Total Solar Eclipse on July 22,2009 was Historic in Nepal

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Hundreds of thousand of Neplese People watched Total solar Eclispe on July 22, 2009. The longest total solar Eclipse of 21st Century that crossed the half of the world took placed on Wednesday, 22 July, 2009.The once in a life time Total Solar Eclipse viewed from 14 districts while the partial eclipse observed from remaining 61 districts of Nepal from 05:45-07:47 hours in the morning. Maximum of 3:49 min of totality was seen from Bhadrapur according to our prediction. People from the path of totality felt strange during the Totality as their animals behaved as if the night had come. Though Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) has predicted three good sites under the path of totality for the observation of Total Solar Eclipse which were Fikkal of Illam, Biratnagar of Morang and Gaighat of Udaypur districts,we planned to visit Biratnagar, second largest city of Nepal, regarding the weather conditions of the other two places. Unfortunately, we could not be there because of the Highway blocka

Nepal First Total Solar Eclipse Observation Campaign concludes with the grand Success!

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