Dhanbad: IIT-ISM Dhanbad inaugurated its National Space Day celebrations today with a spectacular viewing of the rare astronomical event where Jupiter and Mars appeared exceptionally close to each other. The observation took place at the Naresh Vashisth Center for Tinkering and Innovation (NVCTI) using a high-powered telescope.
Dr. Badam Singh Kushwaha, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computing, provided attendees with an informative introduction to the planets and their roles within the Solar System. He explained that the close alignment of Mars and Jupiter was due to a temporary positioning of Earth and other planets in the Solar System.
Professor Ajit Kumar, Faculty-in-Charge of the Office of the Dean, IIE, outlined the upcoming events as part of the National Space Day 2024 celebrations. Highlights include:
Full Moon Day Observation: Scheduled for August 19 at 11:55 p.m., where participants will view lunar features such as craters and maria through high-resolution telescopes.
Open Talk on India and Space Astronomy: Taking place on August 20 at 6:30 p.m., featuring Samir Dhurde, In Charge of the Science Popularization Programme at Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune. Dhurde will discuss major space missions like Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and future projects.
School-Level Telescope Interaction: Set for August 21 at 10 a.m., this session, conducted by the Astronomy Club, will provide school students with hands-on experience in using telescopes.
Poster Competition: Scheduled for August 23, divided into categories for school and IIT-ISM students. The competition will focus on themes such as ‘Future of Space Travel’ and ‘Space Habitats: Engineering for Life Beyond Earth.’
Interactive Workshop: Also on August 23 at 6:30 p.m., titled “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon; India’s Space Saga,” where Deepak Singh, Scientist at ISRO, will share insights and experiences from his career in space research.
The day’s activities were designed to inspire and engage the IIT-ISM community in the wonders of space exploration and astronomy.
