International Year of Astronomy 2009

India National Node

India hosts over two hundred scientists who are pursuing front-line research in
Astronomy and Astrophysics in several research institutes and universities. Thes
e academic centers regularly conduct astronomy popularization programs such as w
orkshops, lecture series, sky watch demonstrations etc.
There are organizations which administers science centers/museums/planetaria spr
ead all over India and undertakes national level science popularization programm
es. To promote science at local level, several other science centres exists whic
h are funded by the state governments or private organizations. Amateur astronom
y clubs (mostly in the cities) also play an important role in bringing astronomy
to the general public.
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Saket Singh Kaurav (IR Group, Dept of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Tata Institute o
f Fundamental Research, Mumbai - 400005.) is delivering series of lectures at J
abalpur (M.P.)
1) 28th December, 2009, Dept. of Physics, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur
2) 28th December, 2009, Govt M. H. Home Science and Science College for Women, J
abalpur.
3) 30th December, 2009, MIMT College Narsinghpur
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To allow astronomers and the public all around the world to witness this spectac
le, the Chinese Astronomical Society, supported by the Chinese Academy of Scienc
es, will be hosting a live broadcast of the eclipse. Available online at http://
eclipse.astronomy2009.org.cn/english, it is an important contribution to IYA2009
's goal of making astronomy accessible to all.
Called "Multi-site Federated Live Broadcast of Solar Eclipse on July 22, Interna
tional Year of Astronomy 2009", it will take full advantage of the latest networ
king, multimedia, and emerging Web 2.0 technologies. Multiple observation sites
will be organised inside the wide eclipse region, especially large cities within
the total solar eclipse belt. Signals from different sites will be collected an
d sent to a central broadcast studio through high-speed network backbones. The p
ublic signal will be released to various portals, including websites, TV, and mo
bile phones.
TSE in India
For information about the TSE visibility information for Indian cities visit web
site of Positional Astronomy Center, Kolkata
Interactive Eclipse Map
Vidur Prakash, member of , Amateur Astronomers Association Delhi, is pursuing a
doctoral degree in Elect. engg. (quantum electronics) from Michigan Tech, USA. h
as put up an interactive Eclipse Map. Please visit www.aaadelhi.org
Live Workshop on Total Solar Eclipse2009
Amateur Astronomers Association of Surat (AAAS) is organising a special event o
n "International Live Workshop on Total Solar Eclipse 2009" on 21-22 July 2009 i
n collaboration with Aatmiya Vidyamandir School at Surat.
Eminent scientists ,from PRL and ISRO, and Astronomy experts are expected to jo
in the event.
From Earth To The Universe (FETTU) - cornerstone project of IYA2009
One year permanent exhibition for the Students and General Public
From 27th July 2009 to 27 July 2010
At Department of Applied Physics, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Techn
ology, Surat
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@ Bangalore
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education.
May 20 - 30 "From web of life to the Universe" summer programme for college stud
ents with lectures on Solar Terrestrial relationships, stellar evolution, compac
t stars, the world of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, interstellar matter, space
astronomy and Chandrayaan, Royal Society Christmas Lecture Series, and hands on
activities.
May 24 "Know Your Stars" Introduction to night sky incollaboration with ABAA
Apr 3 - May 20 Summer Course on "Patterns" covering all the patterns in the univ
erse from microorganisms to the large scale structure of galaxies - lectures, de
monstrations, movies, hands on activities - for school children
...Read more
@ Delhi
TSE 22 July
Preparatory Workshops
Mar 28 -29
Apr 18 -19
The Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi, in collaboration with S.P.A.C.E. (Science Popu
larisation Association of Communicators and Educators) organising a number of pr
eparatory workshops for school/college students and general interested public, f
or the July 22 2009 Total Solar eclipse.
... Read more
@ Thiruvananthapuram
Apr 1 - 2 IYA 2009 Celebrations at Dept of Physics, Indian Institute of Space S
cience and Technology, VSSC Campus, ISRO Thumba Post, Thiruvananthapuram. Lectur
es, interactive sessions, sky watch, mini workshops on telescope making and spe
ctroscopy, quiz, poster and video session
Speakers Prof Jayant V Narlikar, Dr. P Sreekumar, Arvind Paranjpye & V Raj
ashekhar.
Coordinated by Dr Anandmayee Tej
...Read more
@ Bangalore
Mar 22 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education
-. Launch of activities of ABAA for IYA with video presentation on telescope m
aking, display of telescopes and demonstration lecture Know your stars _ introdu
ction to night sky
...Read more
@ Kanpur (panki)
Mar 20 Sun Earth Day - three groups participated in measuring diameter of the ea
rth using he method of Eratosthennes. O N Shukla guided the students and Deepak
Sharma orgainized the event..
...Read more
@ Khanpur, Ahmedabad
March 17 Observations of crescent Venus and slide show by Tanmaye Vyas for the c
hildren at "Observations Home" a place for children have either committed some c
rime or beggars who were caught by police from cross roads.
...Read more
@ Hyderabad
Mar 16- 17 Two day workshop on the Celebration of the International Year of Astr
onomy (IYA) 2009 was organized by Dept of Astronomy, Osmania University, Hyderab
ad.
... Read more
@ Karmala, Solapur
Mar 7 Sky Viewing programme and slide show on astronomy was arrangred by Dinesh
S Nishang, Bhaskaracharya Astronomy Research Centre, Ahmednagar, around 2000 peo
ple participated.
@ Bangalore
Jan 7 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education
-. Know your stars - introduction to night sky, "Ask an astronomer" session and
viewing through telescopes in collaboration with BAS
...Read more
@ Bangalore
Mar 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education
-. Know your stars - introduction to night sky, demonstrations, lecture and tele
scope viewing..
...Read more
@ Pune
Feb 23 - From Galileo to Black Holes
by Tomaso Belloni, (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Astronomical Observatory
of Brera, Italy) joint orgainzed by Embassy of Italy and IUCAA.
@ Bangalore
Feb 17 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education
-. Pro-Am collaboration - meeting.
...Read more
@ Bangalore
Feb 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education
-. Know your stars - introduction to night sky, demonstrations, lecture and tele
scope viewing..
...Read more
@ Bangalore
Jan 23 - 26 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Edu
cation - Science in Action - an exhibition of dynamic astronomy models.
...Read more
@ Bangalore
Jan 4 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education
-. Know your stars - introduction to night sky.
...Read more

The 100 Hours of Astronomy

The 100 Hours of Astronomy, 2-5 April
Cornerstone Project
Astronomy Club-IIT Kanpur
1. Observation Sessions (day/night) open for school students 9th to 12th grade.
2. Lecture series by prominent personalities from observatories/institutions all
across India.
3. Screening of Documentaries.
4. Astronomical Quiz.
District Science Club - Meerut
1.earth experiment on 3,4 th aprill 09.
2. science film in villege.
3. sky watching
Coordinator - Deepak Sharma
http://meerut.eratosnoon.free.fr
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
Himalayan Chandra Telescope (Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle ) is partici
pating in 'Around the World in 80 Telescopes' programme.
SPACE (Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators) - a
t Jantar Mantar , New Delhi from 2nd to 5th April 2009 (sunrise to 11:00 p.m. ev
eryday).
Webcast schedule will be put up on SPACE website (www.space-india.org) two days
before the event.
1. Educating people about the working of various Jantar Mantar Instruments such
as Ram Yantra, Samrat Yantra, Misra Yantra and Jai Prakash Yantra. During day a
s well as evening time (up to 11:00 PM)
2. Live interactive webcast explaining the working of Jantar Mantar instruments
for international community. People from around the world will be able to view t
his webcast and see the mysteries of Jantar Mantar being unraveled by our expert
educators.
3 Sidewalk Astronomy: Telescopic observations of Moon and Saturn during evening
and night time.
4. Safe Solar Observation.
... Read more

26 Jan Astronomy tableau participated in

Republic Day Parade
More about Astronomy tableau
20 Jan Breakthrough Science Society Kerala Chapter, Kottayam, Kerala
Inauguration of the
"Astronomy Year Celebrations"
Inaugural speech
Ajit Kembhavi, IUCAA
"Galileo for the 21st Century"
10 Jan Nationwide Activities in India
Inaugural Meeting
IUCAA, Pune
Key Note address
Jayant Narlikar
Dec 2008 An informative collector's diary for the year 2009 for private distribu
tion