Written by Aryesh Chakraborty Pune is waiting for an exciting planetary alignment gracing the night sky from late January into February where multiple planets such as Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn will align across the horizon. Several astronomy clubs have seized the opportunity to host stargazing events, offering the public a chance to witness this celestial spectacle. Kesariwada Jyotirvidya Observatory Jyotirvidya Parisanstha (JVP), a renowned association of amateur astronomers in Pune, is organising a stargazing event at Kesariwada Jyotirvidya Observatory on January 25. The event will begin in the evening. “The planetary alignment will be visible in the evening, making it an ideal time for stargazing. We are dividing the registered attendees into groups for a week-long observation schedule, as we expect a significant turnout,” said Aniruddha Deshpande, vice-president of JVP. Sinhagad Road The Amateur Astronomers Group Pune, is engaged in creating awareness among people about astronomy and about the particular phenomena. Software engineer Aditya Joshi, who has been running the club along with five other members over the past 8-9 years is all excited about the initiative. "Reels and visuals of planetary alignments on social media are often misleading and exaggerated. However, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury are visible in an arc form,” Joshi said. “This stargazing night is about inspiring and educating people. We’ll point telescopes to star clusters and Nebulas and guide registered attendees through the basics of astronomy, in the venue of amateur astronomers group stargazing site" Joshi added. Gypsy Soul campground near Panshet Dam AXSX (Aeronautics and Space Exploration), an organisation that delves into space education, is hosting a stargazing event at Gypsy Soul campground near Panshet Dam. Kailash Delelkar, founder and director of AXSX, emphasized that while planetary alignments aren't rare, “this year it is special because the planets are going to be much more visible in nature compared to other years.” Delelkar, who has been involved in astronomical education for the last 12-13 years and founded AXSX in 2017, leads a team of 15 board members and around 30 volunteers in Pune city. Nisargshala Camp ground in Pasali village Nisargshala, another body connecting people with nature and the cosmos, is also hosting stargazing nights. Founder Hemant Vavale said, “By the time it gets dark we see the four planets with naked eyes which will get much closer.” He added that Saturn will be the first that will set in the west and Mars will be the last to set around the time of 2 am. According to Avale, the best time to watch the phenomena is on January 25 and February 1 "because there will be less light pollution.” Their events, expected to draw 40 to 50 families around Pune, will be held at the Nisargshala campground in Pasali village. Naneghat, Ghatghar Camp, Pune The Amateur Astronomy Club is hosting the paid space planetary alignment event on February 1st at Naneghat, Ghatghar Camp, Pune. Krushi Parekh, a board member of the Amateur Astronomy Club, who has been organising camps in Pune, Thane, and Mumbai since 2015, explained that it is all just rather overhyped phenomena. "It is not scientifically possible for the planets to come in one straight single line but it only may appear in a line and this phenomena is generally what we call as the planetary parade.” All the Pune-based organisations share a common goal: to encourage public engagement with astronomy and provide opportunities for stargazing. Whether it's a planetary parade or a particularly visible alignment, the night skies promises a captivating show for Pune residents during the entire late January into February.
