Call for Application: Volunteers for Venus Transit Festival 2012-Nepal

Hello readers,
As we all are gearing up for the grand celebration of Transit of Venus in Nepal on June 6, we are looking for the volunteers who will be  helping us with the most awaited AstroFest on Transit of Venus 2012 in Nepal which will be held during June 3-6, 2012 in Kathmandu Valley.

The application for the volunteer is on now. Please fill in the form provided in this blog to apply for this great opportunity.

The successful application will be notified of their selection on Thursday, May 30, 2012. The selected applicant must join us from Friday, June 1, 2012 till Thursday, June 7, 2012.

Lets make this year more especial with Venus Diving to the Sun and spreading this beautiful moment to Nepalese people with different programmes.

If you have any questions regarding role of volunteers, please feel free to contact us at info. naso ( at) gmail ( dot) com

The application deadline is Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Do not wait for the deadlines, apply now!!

TRANSIT OF VENUS (ToV) 5-6 JUNE 2012

What is a transit of Venus?

When Venus passes directly between earth and the sun, we see the distant planet as a small dot gliding slowly across the face of the sun. Historically, this rare alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system.

When is it?

The next transit of Venus occurs June 5 or 6, 2012, depending on your location. This will be the last transit of Venus to occur in your lifetime.


[Source:http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/tran/TOV2012-Fig01.pdf]

You can observe ToV from south asia on June 6.

Safely See the Transit

Important: protect your eyes from the sun.

There are many ways to observe Transit of Venus. Some of the easy ways are:

1. Rear Projection Screen

2. Solar Filtered Telescope

3. Disposable "Eclipse Shades"

4. Live telecast from TV

5. Meet observing team nearby your town

The safest and enjoyable way to observe ToV2012 is to join the nearby observing group.



Observation program in Nepal

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) (along with GHOU-Nepal, other amateur groups and schools) is preparing for ToV observation program in various places in Kathmandu and outside kathmandu on June 6. For the latest update from NASO, keep visiting our blog and our facebook group page.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/196305183827/

For more information about ToV2012:

http://www.venus2012.de

http://www.transitofvenus.org/

For more information on safe solar observation:

http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2012/transit/viewing.php

NASO on Radio Sagarmatha 102.4 MHz in Nepal

As a part of GAM2012 celebration in Nepal, Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) is working for a radio programme on astronomy in Nepal. For this, Dr. Rishi Shah, academician of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), president of NASO , Suresh Bhattarai, executive secretary of NASO, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and Chairman of EurAstro World , Pritisha Shrestha, news reporter, had a special meeting with Durga Karki, Chief Programme Producer at Radio  Sagarmatha 102.4 MHz, Bakhundol, Lalipur on Friday, April 27, 2012.

So, stay tune RADIO SAGARMATA 102.4 MHz  for more info!!

BARKELEY COSMOLOGIST AT CELEBRATION CO ED

[GHOU/UNAWE/NASO]
24th April, Jorpati, Kathmandu

Cosmologist Dr Marina Cortes from Berkeley Lab in California, US visited Celebration Co Ed, a secondary school in Jorpati, Kathmandu and talked with high school students about basic astronomy and development of present cosmology. The program was coordinated by Mr Sudeep Neupane (NASO vice president, GHOU Nepal Chair & UNAWE coordinator for Nepal).

  Picture 1 and 2: Dr Marina Crotes talking with high school students at Celebration Co Ed, Jorpati, Kathmandu

GALILEO TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM (GTTP)2012 ORGANIZED SUCCESSFULLY IN KATHMANDU

Participants of GTTP2012, Kathmandu

The GTTP2012 Kathmandu was organized by Global Hands on Universe (GHOU)-Nepal, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and Espro Foundation at Eureka High School, Kathmandu, Nepal on 31st March 2012.

NASO Vice President/GHOU Chair/GTTP Coordinator Mr Sudeep Neupane introducing GTTP during the event

33 Science Teachers and communicators from different part of Nepal participated in GTTP2012. There were two workshops, one plenary session, one invited lecture and one special talk organized during the program. An observation program was also organized in the evening.

Dr Rishi Shah (NASO President/Academician-NAST) presenting his talk on " Importance of Astronomy"

The program began with the welcome speech from Mr Prabodh Prabhakar Rijal (Director-Espro Foundation and principal- Eureka High School). GTTP Coordinator for Nepal, Chair for Global Hands on Universe (GHOU)-Nepal Chapter and Founder/Vice President of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), Mr. Sudeep Neupane introduced Galileo Teacher Training Program and its concept to the GTTP2012 participants.

Participants enjoyed the first special talk on “Importance of Astronomy” by Dr Rishi Shah, Academician- Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Founder/President-Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO).

Participants intaracting with Dr Rishi Shah (NASO President/Academician-NAST)

The first workshop of the event was on “Developing Landscape of Solar System and Definition of Planet” designed by Mr Sudeep Neupane. Participants actively participated in the workshop and discussed on the IAU definition of planet in different groups. They prepared a three minute presentation and presented in a group. After the presentation from all groups, a press meet was organized where the participants who were nominated for the role of “IAU Board members for Planet definition” from each group, prepared a definition of planet and dwarfs. Interesting, they prepared the definition of planet in the favor of IAU and decided Pluto is no longer a planet but a dwarf.

Workshop1: Participants discussing on definition of Planet and preparing for a press meet

Workshop1: Group presentation by the participants

The invited speaker Prof Dr Binil Aryal from Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University gave his talk on “Why are the things the way they are?” All the participants enjoyed the talk and had a long interaction with Prof Aryal. His talk gave a brief introduction from origin of universe to the present status of the understanding of the universe.

Invited Speaker Dr Binil Aryal (Associate Professor- Tribhuvan University) presenting his talk

Mr Prabodh Prabhakar Rijal (principal-Eureka High School) addressing the meeting during the plenary session

There was a plenary session on “Dooms Day - end of the world 2012” which was chaired by Dr Rishi Shah and participated by Mr Prabodh Rijal and Mr Ritu Sapkota (N-PABSON). Participants were having interesting discussion in the session. The second workshop was dedicated to introduce astronomy freeware to the participants. Mr Subeg Man Bijuchhen presented the brief introduction to the free astronomy software. Participants also practiced some of the software programs (Stellarium, Cybersky, Night vision etc) during the workshop.

Workshop2: NASO founder member Mr Subeg Man Bijuchhen introducing astronomy softwares

Workshop2: Participants exercising the astronomy softwares

All the participants were given GTTP certificate of participation at the end of the program. An observation program was organized after the program; participants observed Moon, Venus, and Orion Nebula from 8” sky watcher (Owned by NASO) and recognized some constellations.

Certificate distribution

Observation program: Participants observed moon, planets and nebula through 8'' sky-watcher in the evening

More information about GHOU and GTTP: http://ghou-nepal.webs.com/

Direct comment: ghou.nepal AT gmail.com

International Conference on Astrophysics and Cosmology (ICAC), 19-21 March, 2012

The first International Conference on Astrophysics and Cosmology (ICAC) was organized at CEDA hall, Tribhuvan University, Nepal during March 19-21. The event has its imprints in the young mind to develop our nation through Astrophysical and Cosmological research. ICAC 2012 was a wonderful occasion to communicate with the experts, researchers and students in the field of Astrophysics and Cosmology. The total number of participants was 125 including 42 international (non-nepalese) participants. There were 3 invited talks, 10 special talks and 46 contributory talks. In addition, 27 posters were displayed in the conference. A full list of participants, title and abstracts of presentation can be found on the webpage: http://icacnepal.webs.com

The conference was opened to experts, researchers and students of Astronomy & Cosmology or related areas affiliated to Research Institutions, Universities and Colleges. The purpose of this conference was to bring together experienced as well as young scientists who are interested in working actively on various aspects of astrophysics & cosmology, to exchange their research findings and to expose young minds in the field of astrophysics & cosmology from Nepal.

The conference consisted of two main sessions: Theme session and Technical session. In the Theme session, a set of lectures were delivered from the distinguished invited professors about the current issues and research findings in their relevant field. Researchers and students had an ample opportunity to present their research findings in the Technical session.

ICAC 2012 is completed with the following recommendations:

1. The country should facilitate sufficient infrastructure to carry out research in the field of A&A.

2. Research collaboration is essential to address the unsolved issues in the field of Astrophysical and Cosmological research.

3. Exchange visit program, workshops, seminars, etc should be materializing for young graduates.

Galileo Teacher Training Programme 2012 ( GTTP-2012) in Nepal

The Global Hands On Universe(GHOU) Chapter for Nepal in collaboration with Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and Espro Foundation, Nepal. have announced the Galileo Teacher Training programme on March 31, 2012

If you are teaching science in school or doing science with public in Nepal, do not wait to apply for the event. This training is the unique platform for all science teacher where they will be taught astronomy and space science so that they can give these knowledge back to their students at schools.

As the deadline is less than two weeks away ( Wednusday,March 14, 2012), Spread news to those whom you think to be interested to this programme.

For more details on the GTTP2012-Nepal please visit the The event page is http://ghou-nepal.webs.com/registration.htm

The registration will be open until 14th March 2012.

Hope to see you all in Kathmandu!

Clear skies!!