NASO announces 'Meet the Cosmonaut' as a part of GAM2013 celebration in Nepal

This year the Global Astronomy Month Celebration in Nepal is going to mark a history!!!How would you feel if you were in front of someone who has been to space 5 times and you could ask all your queries to him face-to-face? Excited!! Then we have more for you now :-)

We are pleased to inform you that Russian Cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov who had been to space for 5 times will be visiting Nepal this April 2013 for the third time!!!

On this occasion, Russian Center of Science and Culture, Kathmandu is organizing  a program on April 11, 2013 at 3:30 PM to  mark 'International Day of Cosmonautics' and '50th Anniversary of the first woman space mission by Valentina Tereshkova' where the participants of the program will have an opportunity to interact with him.  

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) in association with Russian Center for Science and Culture is providing a unique opportunity for 80 applicants to attend the program which will be an inauguration of photo exhibition, documentary show and the Talk by Cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov!!!  Please click  here to register for the event. 

Please note that the deadline for the application is April 9, 2013. So apply now!!!

Wish you all a happy Global Astronomy Month 2013!!!

Astronomy with Orphans in Pokhara

Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) successfully conducted the first astronomy outreach program at Annapurna self Sustaining Orphan Homes, Batulechour, Pokhara which is a self sustaining Orphan Homes. The program was attended by fifty orphans who looked at the Moon and its surface, Jupiter and its satellites for the first time. The program was conducted with the help of 3.5 inch Meade Telescope from 5:30 pm to till 7:00 pm. Suman Gautam, president-PAS, delivered his talk about the technique of Night sky Observation while Mahesh Thakuri, Vice- president-PAS,  delivered his talk on Solar System. Astro quiz was also organized as a part of outreach and the winner team was awarded with astro-photos.  

Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) is a sister organization of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) which promotes astronomy and space science outreach in Western Nepal.

NASO donates Telescope to eSkygazers in Kathmandu!

Sudeep Neupane, founder Vice-president along with Suresh Bhattarai, founder secretary and Rijendra Thapa, founder member of NASO donating the telescope  and other accessories to Probijal, president of eSkygazers, Kathmandu.

Galileoscope donated to Bhawani Vidhyapeeth, Parbat

Dec 6 - An observation program was organized in Bhawani Vidhyapeeth H.S.S., Phalewas, Parpat. During the program, students and public from Phalebas village observed Jupiter and its Galilean Moons through telescope. More than 300 observers participated in the observation program. Sudeep Neupane and Manoj Khadka from NASO along with Maya Barlev from United States facilitated the observation program.

The other day of the observation program, Maya Barlev donated her Galileoscope to Bhawani Vidhyapeeth H.S. School. Mr. Uttam Bhusal, coordinator of the science program, assured that they will organize an astronomy club in their school and use the Galileoscope in future for creating astronomical awareness in the society.

Participants observing Jupiter and its Galilean Moons

Mr Uttam Bhusal practising to focus the Galileoscope

Maya Barlev donating the Galileoscope to Bhawani Vidhyapeeth H.S.S.,Phalewas, Parbat

Maya is Thomas J. Watson fellow and visiting several countries to learn how children around the world think about the Universe. She visited several schools in Kathmandu and Pokhara talking to students of different age group during her stay in Nepal.

Photo Credit: Manoj and Maya

Nepal had successful participation in 22nd UN/IAF Workshop & 63rd IAC in Naples, Italy,2012

22nd United Nations/International Astronautical Federation Workshop on " Space Technologies Applied to the Needs of Humanity: Experience from Cases in the Mediterranean Area " during September 28-30, 2012 & The 63rd International Astronautical Congress( IAC), October 1-5, 2012 remained a good platform to share the space activities in Nepal. This was possible as Mr. Suresh Bhattarai participated and presented his paper in these two events. 

Photo 1: Mr. Bhattarai presenting his poster on 22nd UN/IAF Workshop during September 28-30, 2012, Naples, Italy.

Photo 2: Mr. Bhattarai presenting his paper in the IAC2012,October 1-5, 2012, Naples, Italy. ( Credit: Reinhard  Tlustos)

During the workshop, Mr. Bhattarai actively participated in the discussion on how Space Science can be used on Land Management and discussed the issued where space science had been great help to manage the resources in Nepal. Also he discussed about the different institutions that are using space science & its applications in Nepal. He also presented his paper on "Space Science Education, Outreach Activities and Their Impact in Nepal" during the workshop on September 28-30, 2012.

IAC is one of the biggest event on space science in the world. Mr. Bhattarai presented his paper on Space Education and Outreach Section where he discussed about the hstory of space science education and outreach in Nepal, current status and "Nepal Government's 20 Years Space Development Plan" among the audience. The Govermment of Nepal came up with the plan in 2011 which is regarded as one of the seeding activity of Space Research in Nepal very soon.

Nepal first participated in IAC in 1998 and then 2003. Since 2009, Nepal has been able to show its continuous presence to IAC with  its enthusiastic youths.

Mr. Bhattarai is one of the founder member  and executive secretary at Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO). NASO is a pioneer group for the promotion of S &T in Nepal through Astronomy and Space Science Outreach along with some ProAm programmes addressing all range of people from the globe. He is also currently working for Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) as National Point of Contact for Nepal and Executive Secretary at SGAC executive office at Vienna, Austria. Besides, he serves as chairman at EurAstro World (EAW) and Ambassador for Nepal at StarPeace Project.

Wish you all a happy Blue Moon August 2012

Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) wishes all its reader a happy Blue Moon. A blue moon can refer to the third full moon in a season with four full moons. Most years have twelve full moons that occur approximately monthly. In addition to those twelve full lunar cycles, each solar calendar year contains roughly eleven days more than the lunar year of 12 lunations. The extra days accumulate, so every two or three years (7 times in the 19-year Metonic cycle), there is an extra full moon. Lunisolar calendars have rules about when to insert such an intercalary or embolismic ("leap") month, and what name it is given; e.g. in the Hebrew calendarthe month Adar is duplicated. The term "blue moon" comes from folklore. Different traditions and conventions place the extra "blue" full moon at different times in the year. In the Hindu calendar, this extra month is called 'Adhik (extra) masa (month)'. It is also known as purushottam maas, so as to give it a devotional name.

Photo: Blue Moon as seen at 19:14 Hrs, August 31, 2012  from the Maitidevi , Kathmandu,Nepal . 

Wish you a happy Moon Observation tonight! Please share your picture of Blue Moon with us if you manage to click on it :)

NASO Founder Vice President Participating in IAU General Assembly, Beijing, 19-31 Aug 2012

Founder Vice President of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO),  Mr. Sudeep Neupane, has been to Beijing, China to participate in International Astronomical Union - General Assembly (IAU-GA) going to be held from Aug 19 to Aug 31, 2012. He will be representing  (NASO) as well as Nepalese Astronomy Community in IAU. Mr. Neupane will be presenting his oral presentation on special session of Office of Astronomy for Development.

This is the continuation of NASO to represent Nepalese Astronomy at IAU and orther international meetings. So far, NASO has been to many IAU regional and general meetings/assemblies representing the Nepalese astronomy community.