The Winner of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO2014) announced: Congratulations Kapil Rokaya!

The organizing committee of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO2014) Nepal has announced Mr. Kapil Rokaya as the winner of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 Logo Competition now!!!

After getting the news, Kapil Rokaya, permanent resident of Bajura expressed, "I was very excited when i got the email from NASO that my design got selected for final logo of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014. And when I received the phone call my excitement level got double. It's great achievement that helps me for my further work. I am hearty thankful towards NASO. Thank You again NASO for this award."

During the announcement, Chair of NAO 2014 Organizing Committee - Rishi Shah, academician at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology - NAST and President at NASO praised the works of all the applicants and says: " The young generations interest for astronomy to reach out for the star and know more about the universe and our planet, solar system was very encouraging conformation for organizers like us feels great. We were fascinated by the interest of contestants and their enthusiasm in astronomy. And this is the very encouraging sign for the organizers to conduct such program."

Manish Dwa, Project Coordinator at NASO and part of the NAO 2014 organizing committee  said regarding the logo as well as further plan, "Within a short span of time too, we were able to get some very high quality logos from different parts of Nepal. Core members of the organizing team were the jury and the judgement was done without any kind of biasing. The qualities of the logos received were high. And now the applications will open and we are really look forward for a huge participation from high school science students across Nepal. " 

Prabodh Rijal, President of ESPRO Foundation one of the organizers about the participation in the logo competition as he said, "The participation was good. People are creative and responsive." There was a huge participation and support from amateurs to professionals applying for the competition. Finally out of many contestants Kapil Rokaya bagged the grand prize. Kapil will be acknowledged and handed over the cash prize at the grand ceremony of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014.

NAO 2014 is designed to encourage Nepalese high school students with good foundations in Physics ,Mathematics and an interest in Elementary Astronomy to pursue further studies in this field are encouraged to participate. The Nepalese delegation will participate in 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) going to be held in Suceava, Romania, 1-10 August, 2014.

Gaurav Kandel, Founding Initiator of View Your Choice,outreach partner, said regarding NAO 2014, "We are extremely glad to extend the collaboration with National Astronomy Olympiad. We have had our collaborations earlier too and this too strengthen's our relationship. Thanking the organizing team for their support. "

For more updates on NAO2014, stay tuned with us :) :) :)

RCSC Kathmandu Honors NASO for it contribution during 2013!

Russian Center of Science & Culture (RCSC) in Kathmandu honored Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) for its continution support to scientific activities of RCSC in Nepal during a grand ceremony of falicitaion program organized in Kathmandu.

Photo: Dr. Rishi Shah, president of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and with Stanislav Simakov, Director of Russian Center of Science and Culture (RCSC) on December 27, 2013

With this appreciation, we are looking forward to more collaborative works with RCSC in 2014 engaging Nepalese Students and Professionals for outreach, education and research on Astronomy and Space Science in Nepal.

Astronomy at 6th ROTARACT District Conference 2013 Nepal!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) had astonomical sessions during the 6th ROTARACT District Conference 2013 on December 27, 2013. The Conference will continue till December 28, 2013 at St. Xavier's School, Jawlakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal.

Photo 1: Opening Ceremony of 6th ROTARACT District Conference 2013, December 27-28, 2013

We had three sessions during the conference: Presentation, Solar Observation and Night Sky Observation Session on Dcember 27, 2013. 

Photo 2: Manisha Dwa, Project Coordinator at Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), presenting on NASO and Astronomical Sessions during the conference.

Photo 3: Participants of 6th ROTARACT Disctrict Conference 2013 enjoying the solar Observation at Playground of St. Xavier's School, Jawlakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal

Photo 4: Participants at the Night Sky Observation session with 8 inch Skywatcher Dobsonian during 6th ROTARACT District Conference 2013 Nepal.

We would like to thank all the participants of our sessions during the conference. We look forward to meet you again in another sessions soon! 

::NATIONAL ASTRONOMY OLYMPIAD 2014-LOGO COMPETITION:: !!!WIN A CASH PRICE OF 5,000 NRS!!!

NepalAstronomical Society (NASO) and ESPRO Foundation announce

NATIONAL ASTRONOMY OLYMPIAD 2014

LOGO COMPETITION

Deadline for submission: Tuesday, 24^th December, 2013!!!

&

!!!WIN A CASH PRICE OF 5,000 NRS!!!

Rules & Regulations:

• The logo must include the following themes: ASTRONOMY, EDUCATION & NEPAL and should reflect National Astronomy Olympiad 2014.
• Maximum of three designs can be submitted by a person. Submitted designs must contain the original idea/creation of the designer. Logos must be created in full colour in JPG formats. The logo specification is width 600 pixels.
• Each design must contain a description of no more than 200 words. Design without description will not be accepted for the competition.
• The deadline for submission is Tuesday, 24th December, 2013. Submission after the deadline will not be entertained.
• The best logo will be awarded 5,000 NRs as a cash price.
• The decision of the evaluation committee will be final. The copy-write of the selected logo will be of NASO only.
• The submission must be done through email: info.naso[at]gmail.com. 

NASO and DAS organizes "Lets talk about Space Science" in Mid-Western Region of Nepal!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and newly formed Dang Astronomical Society (DAS) for successful organization of one day interaction programme on " Lets Talk About Space Science" at Sidhartha Adacemy, Dang for students of class 11 and 12 at Siddhartha Academy, Ghorahi-11, Dang, Nepal. 

Photo: Group photo of the participants of the one day interaction programme " Lets Talk about Space Science" at Siddhartha Academy, Ghorahi-11, Dang, Nepal.

DAS will be looking for the NASO activities in Mid-Western Regionin coming days! We are entrilled with your enthusiasm and looking forward to have more programmes in your region in coming days.

Congratulations guys for the successful event!

Wish you all the best for your work to promote astronomy and space science acivities in Mid-Western Region of Nepal!

Nepal succefully participates on Third Astronomy Olympiad Exposure Camp, October 28-31, 2013, India!

A seven member team lead by Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) is back to Kathmandu with great enthusiam and strong commitment to host the First National Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2014 in Nepal. The team successfully participated in the Astronomy Olympiad Exposure Camp during Nov 28-31, 2013 at Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education ( HBCSE), Mumbai, India.

The team also paricipated on the ProAm3 Meeting prior to the Exposure Camp at HBSCE on Nov 27, 2013 where amateur and professionals discussed on how citizen science projects can be promoted and how people can get involved on these projects.

Photo 1: Nepalese team busy with star gazing with the telescope provided by the organizer at Observing Station: Dinchak Village, a place which is ~100 KM away from Mumbai, India.

Photo 2: Participants getting attentive during the tutrial session to solve the problems provided with the tutorial kit.

Photo 3: Dr. Aniket Sule, Co-ordinator of Astronomy Cell at HBSCE and organizer of Exposure Camp explaining celestial mechanics to the participants.

Photo 4: Samir Dhurde, Science Communicator and Astronomer at IUCAA, Pune hosting the ProAm3  Meeting on Nov  27, 2013

While in Mumbai, our team visited Nehru Science Center and Nehru Planetarium to get a first hand experience on what should be integrated to our science center in Nepal which we we dreaming in Nepal for a long time!

To get more information on the NOAA2014, subscribe us for the updates on Blog, Facebook and Twitter!

Solar Observation Programme at Lumbini Nepal, The Birthpace of Lord Buddha!

On October 24, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) organized a Solar Observation Programme at Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, which is one of the World Heritage Sites in Nepal.

Photo 1: Mr. Devraj Sapkota, president of Damak Astronomy Club: Eastern Wing of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) helping a girl to realise the beauty of the sun. The girl seems very happy which can be realsed with ther smile and pinted finger to the sky :)

During the programmes, more than 1,000 observered the Sun and the two spots on it through Solar Glasses donated by Central Maine Astronomical Society to Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO). The Observers were monks, prients, incharge of monastries, guards and the visiters to the park from different parts of Nepal and abroad.

Photo 2: Students on educational excurtion to Lumbini thrilled by the beauty of the sun with its two spot. Though their teacher refused to have their students look through the glasses, as soon as student realise the spot on the sun, their crowd coverd Mr. Prabodh  Rijal, President of ESPRO Foundation with their queries and another chance to look at the sun again :)

Photo 3:  Mr. Kishor Acharya, Programme Coordinator at NASO, guiding one of the participants of the programme to realise the spots! You can see the participant's face with full of enquiry!

Photo 4: Priests doing thei relugar jobs at Lumbini park remained thrilled when they saw ther God! When they realise the sun and the spots they workshiped with wholeheartely!

Photo 5: NASO outreach team at Lumbini (from left): Kishor Acharya-programme coordinator, Manisha Dwa-project coordinator, Prabodh Rijal-president of ESPRO Foundation, Sujan Regmi-Vice-president of Pokhara Astronomical Society(PAS): western wing of NASO, Suresh Bhattarai-founder secretary, Devraj Sapkota-President of DAC and Mahesh Thakuri-Vice president of PAS.

With the overwhelming participation of the public and requests from the concern departments at the Lumbini Park, we plan to visit them with more programme in the year 2014!

Thanks a lot for all people who helped us to make this programmea great success.

We are gearing up for one of the most exciting astronomical programme in Lumbini in 2014!

NASO Celebrates International Day of Peace in Pokhara, Nepal

As a celebration of International Day of Peace in association with StarPeace Project, an interaction program followed by Solar Observation Session were organized at Sangri-La Village Resort on September 22, 2013 for 40 invited participants and Solar Observation Session at Motherland Higher Secondary School on September 23, 2013 where ~200 students got the first time experience of observation of sun through PST which was donated to NASO by EurAstro Association during EurAstro Mission Nepal 2011. 

Photo 1: Students enjoying the Sun through NASA Solar Glasses on September 22, 2013 at Sangri-La Village Resort, Pokhara, Nepal

Photo 2: Participants and the organizers of the Interaction programme to celebrate International Day of Peace at Sangri-La Village Resort on September 22, 2013.

Photo 3: Ms. Manisha Dwa, Project Coordinator, Sharing NASO projects among the participants during an interaction programme at Sangri-La Village Resort, Pokhara, Nepal on September 22, 2013

Photo 4: Student looking at the Sun and the spots on it though Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST) donated by EurAstro Association to NASO in 2011. This PST is the  first and only solar telescope with NASO (probably in Nepal).

Photo 5: Er. Rishi Shah, Academician at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and president of NASO asnwering the queries from the students during an interaction programme on September 22, 2013 at Sangri-La Village Resort, Pokhara, Nepal.

Photo 6: Students posing for group photo with organisers after the solar observation session at Motherland Higher Secondary School on September 23, 2013, Pokhara, Nepal.

The Observers also enjoyed the Sun through NASA Solar Glasses which were donated to Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) during Global Astronomy Month 2011 which was brought to Nepal by Joan Chamberlin. The sessions/events were sponsored by Rishi Shah, Academician of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and President of NASO. 

Observation Programme at Damak Multiple Campus, Jhapa, Nepal!

More than 20 people including 5 children enjoyed the sky over with the telescope donated by Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) and in coordination of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) at Damak Multiple Campus on May 22, 2013. The programme was organized by the Damak Astronomical Club.

DAC is an Astronomical Club that is formed by the faculties of Department of Physics and B.Sc. Physics students at Damak Multiple Campus, Damak, Jhapa, Nepal. 

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.