Report of Global Astronomy Month 2010 ( GAM2010) in Nepal !

Astro Quiz Contest 2010, April 1-30,2010

Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) in collaboration with National TV asked four questions related to the astronomy with three options from National television during the GAM2010. People voted by sending sms as GAM_A/B/C to 4321. We announced winners every Saturday. The questions were:

· Where does Chhatedhunga lie in Nepal?

· What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth?

· When was International Year of Astronomy Celebrated?

· Where is the National Observatory of Nepal?

The participants were from the different parts of Nepal. The winners were Ashim Aaudel, 13 years, Dharan; Indira Chaudari, Dhangadi; Debaki Bhattarai, Kathmandu and Chadani Subba, Tehrathum. The winners were awarded with the one year free subcrpition of Scholar Magazine, Hubble and The Universe (Nepal’s First Astronomical Documentary) and Night Sky (astronomical software).

Global Astronomy Month Kicks off officially in Nepal: April 1, 2010

On the first day of GAM, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) organized a talk programme at Celebration Co-Ed School,Narayan Taar, Jorpati during 13:00-14:00 Hrs.
During the talk programme, Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel, Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) co-coordinator for Nepal explained about the GAM and possible activities that can be done during the month of April for the celebration of GAM with our available resources. The another attraction of the programme was a presentation on Light pollution by Mr. Sudeep Neupane, Vice president of NASO and Co-coordinator of Campaign Against Light Pollution Nepal (CALP- Nepal) that initiated a year before during the IYA2009 in Nepal by NASO. Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, secretary of NASO and Ambassador of Star Peace Event in Nepal, gave a short demonstration on how to handle astronomical software to explore the beauty of the night sky!

Celebrating Global Astronomy Month amongst School Students, April 2, 2010

Nepal Astronomical Society organized an Educational Outreach activity amongst curious students of Grade 6, 7, 8 and 9 studying at RIA School. The event was held at the premises of the school located at Kapan, Kathmandu on 2nd April 2010.

During the event, Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel, founder member of NASO ,and the coordinator of GAM for Nepal talked about Global Astronomy Month(GAM) and reflected on the importance of celebrating GAM all over the world. Vice - President of NASO, and the coordinator of Campaign against light pollution Mr. Sudeep Neupane gave a brief information on 'Night Sky' and' Light Pollution’. Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, secretary of NASO and Ambassador of Star Peace Event guided students in using Stellarium, astronomical software for sky observation. Mr. Rijendra Thapa, founder member of Nepal Astronomical Society, and NpoC of SGAC Nepal gave a brief presentation on Understanding Science.

What is beyond the universe? Can we travel to the future? Does Black Hole eat Nebula? Were few out of many interesting questions asked by Young minds. The event was finally concluded on handing over poster 'How Science Works' to the Principal of the School.

30 Nights of Star Peace in Nepal: That's the Red Planet!, April 6,2010

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) organized star party on April 6 in the street of ancient city Handigaun as 30 nights of star peace in Nepal as another GAM2010 celebration in Nepal. During the event, the participants were guided to the Mars with the astronomical Pointer, more than 30 people gazed to the Red Planet, Mars through our Binoculars!

During the event, we shared the theme of "one people one sky" with India while our attempt to connect with Sri Lanka and Pakistan failed due to technical problems in the telephone. S.P.A.C.E shared two photos that were taken by C.B. Devgan as a part of 30 nights of Star Peace in Nepal and India.

It's a Sun Day: another GAM2010 event in Nepal! April11, 2010

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) organized an event to mark Sunday, global program of GAM2010 here in Nepal on Sunday, April 11, 2010. The program was organized in H.B. Complex during 14:00-17:00 Hrs for the public to view the Sun through 8 Inch Dobsonian and some solar eclipse glasses. Unfortunately we could not find the Sun spot to the participants during the event :-( Did you find Sunspot during the time in your region? More than 50 participants of different ages with remarkable presence of women and children.

During the event, Er. Rishi Shah, president of NASO explained to the public why NASO is conducting such outreach events in Nepal. Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel, AWB co-ordinator for Nepal, explained about the GAM2010 while Mr. Sudeep Neupane, Vice President of NASO and Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, Secretary of NASO and Mr. Rijendra Thapa guided the public for safe view of The SUN!

Seminar on Central department of Physics of Tribhuvan University: April 16, 2010

Executive Founder Member of NASO Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel gave a talk on the Central department of Physics where the participants were the renowned professors, lecturers and students of Astrophysics. The programme was divided into three segments. In first segment Mr. Pokhrel explained about his CAP conference in South Africa and its outcomes, 2^nd segment was a power point presentation of GAM2010 including the information on how people can participate in it and the 3^rd segment was an exposure to astronomical softwares.

GAM2010-NASO Expedition to Far East Nepal!, April 20, 2010

Three trinkets of NASO set off to Terhathum for Chhatedhunga . They were Mr. Sudeep Neupane (Founder VP) Mr. Suresh Bhattarai (Founder Secretory) and Mr. Rijendra Thapa(Founder Member). This programme of NASO is a part of the global celebration of GAM. NASO set this exploration as Chhatedhunga was campared to Stone Henge of England. So, this exploration is to identify whether Chhatedhunga is really a stone henge or not. During the exploration, there were programmes like talks, Solar observation and Star parties in different parts of Jhapa, Panchthar, Tehrathum and Sunsari districts of Nepal. The programmes were conducted till the end of April.

Talk on Amateur astronomy and GAM2010 in Nepal: April 21, 2010

NASO gave a talk on a local school named Rudra Memorial English Boarding School of Birtamod in Far East Nepal. The talk was mainly focused on amateur astronomy including the events that locals could do for celebrating GAM. The programme was conducted from 15 hrs to 16.30 hrs.

Star party in New hope school, Khudunabari: April 21, 2010

Followed by the talk in Birtamod, NASO organized a star party in another school called ‘New Hope school’ in Khudunabari. The participants were over 30 students and they were exposed to lunar craters with telescope and binocular. The programme ended in 20 hrs.

Star party in a community in Magar Village: April 21, 2010

Following star party in New hope school, NASO organized another star party in a local village called Magar Gaun. It was a perfect outreach programme in which more than 100 villagers had an opportunity of observing moon through telescope.

Night sky observation campaign in Pokhari high school: April 23, 2010

NASO organized another star party in its destination venue Chhatedhunga in a local school called Pokhari higher secondary school. Students and teachers were delighted for being encountered with night sky observation idea, telescope observing and interaction with NASO members.

Star Party in COW SHED: April 24, 2010

This was an amazing star party conducted by NASO in a Cow shed. More than 50 locals were there to observe through telescope.

Solar Observation Programme: April 26, 2010

NASO conducted another solar observation programme in the famous city of Nepal- Dharan. The event was organized in the clock tower where more than 40 locals observed the nearest star Sun with solar glasses. The excitement of locals in observing Sun was remarkable.

Photos of respective programmes can be found on previous pages.