Date with the cosmos: Kids go stargazing

Around 70 children participated at an amateur astronomy camp at the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) on Tuesday night. This was the last day of the five-day camp held at the Dnyanaprabhodini School at Nigdi,where participants were introduced to the night sky,and taught to track various planets and constellations using telescopes and binoculars.

“This is an annual residential camp we have been holding each year since 2002. Till now,over 350 students have participated in the camp. This year,because of the solar eclipse on July 22,we taught students to view the eclipse as well. Around 70-80 per cent of the eclipse will be visible in Maharashtra. The last solar eclipse was a decade ago. For most of the students at the camp,this will be the first solar eclipse they will see,” said Mayuresh Prabhuni,convener of Khagol Vishwa that organised the camp.

The group is also taking a contingent to Nalanda in July to watch the solar eclipse.

Meanwhile on the occasion of the International Astronomy year 2009,Khagol Vishwa is expanding its network to include city outskirts,small towns and rural areas.

“Till now,most astronomy groups have concentrated at the metros and big cities like Bangalore,Delhi,Ahmedabad,Mumbai,and Pune. We have been asking individuals and groups at other places in Maharashtra to start their own astronomy clubs; we could help them with resources. Groups from Manchar,Narayangaon,Baramati and Lonavala have already approached us,” he said.

Khagol Vishwa can be contacted on http://www.kvindia.org/.