International Year of Light (IYL2015):Global Year Highlighting the Importance of Light!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) invites you to participate in #NameExoWorld Contest and Cosmic Light, two major International Astronomical Union (IAU) projects to celebrate International Year of Light 2015 (IYL2015).

What is NameExoWolds?

It is a global contest where everyone can participate to propose the name of the ExoWorlds. To propose the name, you need to register your organization, group, club, college, school, etc to IAU Directory (https://directory.iau.org/) before December 31, 2014! You can check all the details about the contest at its official site, for any confusion, please feel free to contact us at info.naso [at] gmail.com

Please read the press release by IAU regarding the IAU Directory and Contest:
http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1406/
http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1404/

What is Cosmos Light?

It is global celebration of importance of light. There will be several sub programmes as:

• Einstein Centenary
• Dark Skies Awareness
• Universe of Images
• Galileo-scope
• The Big Bang

You can find all the details at official website of IYL2015 (www.lightl2015.org) about Cosmic Light Programme. If you have any queries,you can write us at info.naso[at]gmail.com

What is International Year of Light 2015?

The International Year of Light 2015 recognizes the importance of raising global awareness of how light-based technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture, and health. Fore more details, www.light2015.org

What is IAU Office for Astronomy Outeach?

The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) is IAU's hub for coordinating its public outreach activities around the world. The aim is to build networks to support and disseminate information to the amateur astronomy and public outreach communities, and to ultimately make it easier for the public to access information about our Universe. For more details, http://www.iau.org/public/ 

Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight!

If you are looking for some good time with shooting stars, tonight may be memorable night for you! So, get ready for an exciting stellar circus in the night sky tonight! 

Geminids are associated not with a comet but with an asteroid - the 3200 Phaethon. The asteroid takes about 1.4 years to orbit around the Sun.

The existing module and the data shows that Geminids will show its maximum around 5:45 PM Nepali time, December 14, 2014! (That's tonight!)

As per the www.accuweather.com, the weather remains pretty unfair with observers tonight! There will be some chances of clear weather after 9:00 PM till before sun rise! The third quarter moon will be there to dominates the view, but we can still expect some good view provided that weather remains clear! 

Remember: Meteor Shower gives good view after mid-night due to the sun light falling on them keeping them more brighter!!!

If you are planning for observation, please feel free to share us your experience by commenting here.

NASO announces winners of National Astronomy Olympiad 2015-Logo Competition

If you are waiting to know who bagged this year's National Astronomy Olympiad Logo Competition, the time for your wait is over! Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) announces winners of Second National Astronomy Olympiad 2015- Logo Competition held during September 25- November 7, 2014.

The winning logos for National Astronomy Olympiad 2015 (NAO2015) are:

First Winner at National astronomy Olympiad 2015 (NAO2015)-Logo Competition, Designer: Yonjan

Mr. Yonjan Jensun, the first prize winner of the competition ,  after the announcement says, 'I am very thankful towards Nepal Astronomy Society (NASO) for selecting my design as the first winner. It is a great feeling to be part of NASO through my artwork. I hope this might help inspire other youths to be involved in NASO by giving their time for such logo competition, or even volunteer at the NASO Annual Olympiad. National Astronomy Olympiad Logo Competition is a great way to give a chance for emerging young designers to promote their work in Nepal. It also helps to spread word about NASO and their works for promoting astronomy in Nepal since 1980s.'

He will be donating the prize to Maya Universe Academy at Damauli, Nepal. Maya Universe Academy is a youth movement to provide free education in rural Nepal. 

Second Winner at National Astronomy Olympiad 2015 (NAO2015) - Logo Competition

Mr. Shankar Rai, who bagged second position says, 'At the very first beginning when I was participating in this competition, I didn't know whether I become winner? Apparently, my only intention was just to give you my creativity. But eventually it got me stand at second position which is not a small achievement either. If such platform are keep on giving to the youth like us, it doesn't let our creativity and skill die.So, once again it is my great honor to be the second winner.May your effort always encourages youths.'

Third Winner at National Astronomy Olympiad 2015 (NAO2015) - Logo Competition

Mr. Raj Khadgi who is the third winner of the competition highlighted the importance of such competition to encourage youths to showcase their skills and creativity. He says,  'This is my great experience being part of this national level  logo competition. And achieving  third position is really a wonderful moment for me. This kind of competition plays an important role to encourage the growing youths to present their skills and creativity. I want to  thank Nepal Astronomy Society for acknowledging our creativity and hope for such kind of activities in near future also.'

The first, second and third winners will cash prize of NRs. 5,000/- , NRs. 1,000/- and NRs. 500 /- respectively along with certificates and token of love during Second National Astronomy Olympiad 2015 in Nepal.

Looking forward to another successful astronomy Olympiad in Nepal!

Call for Volunteers: National Astronomy Olympiad 2015!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) announces National Call for Volunteers for the Second National Astronomy Olympiad during 2015 (NAO-2015). We are looking for application from the motivated, dedicated and hardworking people who want to work with us during NAO-2015. Selected volunteers with work with us till September 2015 as a part of NAO-2105 program.

No of Positions available: 10

Are you interested to join us ? If yes, please contact us at astro.olympiad@gmail.com with subject line 'Application for NAO-2015 Volunteer' along with one page letter of motivation/Cover Letter and your latest CV.

Only Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview session.

What will you do as NAO-2015 Volunteer?

• Administrative Work: To prepare promotional materials like flyers, Banners, etc and assist during different event like opening ceremony, closing ceremony, selection exam, etc
• Promotional work: To reach more students and conduct orientation classes at different colleges
• Report/News Writing Work: To prepare reports of Opening Ceremony,Closing Ceremony,Selection,exam, press meet, etc and prepare news articles to be sent to media

Note: You will need to spend at least 20 hours a week for the work related with NAO-2015, access to good internet connection and good English and writing skills to be a part of this initiative.

Volunteers will be provided token of love and certificate for their contribution after the completion of the program at one of our programs.

The deadline for application is November 30, 2014. So apply now!

National Astronomy Olympiad: 

The National Astronomy Olympiad Program is a national educational program designed by Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and ESPRO Foundation to encourage Nepalese students who pursue further studies in Physics,Maths,Astronomy & Space Science.

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO):

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) which was formed in 2007 is the leading astronomical society in Nepal. Since then it has been continuously working for the astronomy and space science outreach, education and research in Nepal. Its experts on different areas especially outreach have been extensively taken astronomy to many parts of Nepal. With the celebrations of International HelioPhysical Year 2007 - 2008 and International Year of Astronomy 2009 with many exciting programs in Nepal, it is now moving ahead with greater responsibilities and the human resources than before for the enhancement of astronomical community in Nepal. It is committed for the ProAm collaboration for enriching the astronomical community in Nepal and has been collaborating with Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Group along with other stake holders promoting outreach, education and research works in the fields of science and technology in Nepal.

ESPRO Foundation:

ESPRO Foundation was established in 2009 by Mr. Probodh Rijal, Founder Principal of Eureka High School, Nepaltar, Kathmandu, Nepal. It promotes different educational activities at school level especially in science. The founder is also the organizer of the Young Scientist Fair, an event where schools students from different schools in Nepal exhibits their talents and get awarded for their best practices.  ESPRO is actively working to establish a science city with interactive science museum and a planetarium for the students.

Countdown Begins: Rosetta’s Philae probe is set to make the first-ever landing on a Comet!

As the Rosetta Mission's is getting closer to the most crucial part of the mission, i.e. landing on the comet 67P/ C-G, we, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), are working with media to take this greatest event of space exploration to the public as much as possible. We would like to thank the ESA TV team and EuroVision Team for the information which we managed to convey to the TV channels to explore the possibility of taking this event to every household via Nepal Television and Avenues Television.

Rosetta is a cornerstone mission to chase, go into orbit around, and land on a comet. It is studying the Jupiter-family comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with a combination of remote sensing and in situ measurements. The spacecraft arrived at the comet on 6 August 2014 following a 10-year journey through the Solar System. Between August and November, the spacecraft has been orbiting the comet and gathering data to characterise the environment and the comet nucleus. On 12 November 2014, Rosetta's lander Philae will be deployed to the surface. Philae carries a suite of instruments for imaging and sampling the comet nucleus. The Rosetta orbiter will track the comet through perihelion (August 2015), examining its behavior before, during and after.

Here's the timeline for the Rosetta Mission reflecting accomplished works as well as remaining part of the mission:

Event	Nominal date
Launch	2 March 2004
First Earth gravity assist	4 March 2005
Mars gravity assist	25 February 2007
Second Earth gravity assist	13 November 2007
Asteroid Steins flyby	5 September 2008
Third Earth gravity assist	13 November 2009
Asteroid Lutetia flyby	10 July 2010
Enter deep space hibernation	8 June 2011
Exit deep space hibernation	20 January 2014
Rendezvous manoeuvres begin	7 May 2014
Arrive at comet	6 August 2014
Start global mapping	10 September 2014
Lander delivery	12 November 2014
Perihelion passage	13 August 2015
End of mission	31 December 2015

The objectives of the missions are:

• To study the origin of comets, the relationship between cometary and interstellar material, and its implications with regard to the origin of the Solar System. The measurements to be made to achieve this are:
• Global characterisation of the nucleus, determination of dynamic properties, surface morphology and composition;
• Determination of the chemical, mineralogical and isotopic compositions of volatiles and refractories in a cometary nucleus;
• Determination of the physical properties and interrelation of volatiles and refractories in a cometary nucleus;
• Study of the development of cometary activity and the processes in the surface layer of the nucleus and the inner coma (dust/gas interaction);
• Global characterisation of asteroids, including determination of dynamic properties, surface morphology and composition.

There are altogether 21 instruments as mentioned below:

THE ROSETTA ORBITER (11 SCIENCE INSTRUMENT PACKAGES)

Alice	Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer
CONSERT	Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radio wave Transmission
COSIMA	Cometary Secondary Ion Mass Analyser
GIADA	Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator
MIDAS	Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System
MIRO	Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter
OSIRIS	Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System
ROSINA	Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis
RPC	Rosetta Plasma Consortium
RSI	Radio Science Investigation
VIRTIS	Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer

THE ROSETTA LANDER (10 SCIENCE INSTRUMENT PACKAGES)

APXS	Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer
ÇIVA and ROLIS	Panoramic and microscopic imaging system
CONSERT	Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radio wave Transmission
COSAC	Cometary Sampling and Composition experiment
PTOLEMY	Evolved Gas Analyser
MUPUS	Multi-Purpose Sensor for Surface and Subsurface Science
ROMAP	Rosetta lander Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor
SD2	Sample and Distribution Device
SESAME	Surface Electric Sounding and Acoustic Monitoring Experiment

To  know more about our work on taking this historic event to public in Nepal, like us at www.facebook.com/NepalAstronomicalSociety or subscribe our blog ( you can do that by submitting your email at the top right of this page)!

Looking forward to have successful landing! Happy Landing Philae :) 

National Astronomy Olympiad 2015: Pre-Registration Available NOW!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) announced call for pre-registration for the National Astronomy Olympiad 2015 today and will remain open until the announcement of selection examination details. We encouraged all the interested and eligible students for the pre-registration so that you will get an email about the details on the selection exams when available! 

Only Nepalese students born after January 1, 1996 and having studied upto higher secondary studies are eligible to apply for this program.If you are interested for the program and wish to participate, click here to APPLY NOW!

The National Astronomy Olympiad Program is a national educational program designed by Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and ESPRO Foundation to encourage Nepalese students who pursue further studies in Physics,Maths,Astronomy & Space Science.

!All the interested & eligible students are encouraged to apply!
!If you have any queries regarding National Astronomy Olympiad Program or look forward to contribute, please feel free to contact us!

The registration will be accepted till April 17, 2015

APPLY NOW

6 Days of Darkness during December 16-22, 2014 is another Internet Hoax!

As people are frightened by the hoax on six days of blackout during December 16-22, 2014, we are writing this blog to assure all the people that there will be no such dark week as claimed by the site www.huzlers.com.Huzlers.com which posted the news before which went viral via twitter and facebook! PLEASE NOTE THAT  this site claims to be a combination of real shocking news and satirical entertainment to keep its visitors in a state of disbelief. And the news about the blackout is surely became successful to keep people in the state of disbelief!!!

PLEASE BE SURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO WORLDWIDE BLACKOUT AS CLAIMED BY THE SITE!!! IT'S JUST AN ANOTHER INTERNET HOAX!!! ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE INFORMATION YOU GET FROM THE INTERNET IN ORDER TO GET REAL INFORMATION TO AVOID HOAX IN FUTURE!

Here's is the post that we stared our official facebook page this evening:

"केही दिनदेखि चर्चामा आइरहेको डिसेम्बर १६ देखि २२ सम्म पुरै विश्व अन्दकार हुने समाचार भ्रामक रहेको जानकारी गराउन चाहन्छौ ! नेपाली online मिडियाहरुले यस्तो संबेदनशील समाचारको सुष्म अध्ययन नगरी हचुवाको भरमा आम नेपाली जनतामा समाचार प्रसारण गरेकोमा हामी केहि दुखी भएका छौं ! खगोल, खगोल भौतिक बिज्ञान तथा अन्तरिक्ष बिज्ञान सम्बन्धि जानकारी को लागि हाम्रो ब्लग: http://astronomy-nepal.blogspot.com/ हेर्न नभुल्नु होला ! साथै यस सम्बन्धि कुनै पनि किसिमको जानकारी चाहिएमा हामीलाई सम्पर्क गर्नु होला!धन्यवाद !"

How did this hoax emerge?

The Sun of active these says and we have been observing greater sunspot at the sun's surface these days. Here's what we captured from Pokhara were you can see the spot which is of the size of Planet Jupiter! Normally the solar cycle is of 11 years and sun and generally becomes active around the edge of the ends. 

Photo 1: Sunspot which is of the size of Jupiter as captured from the beautiful city, Pokhara by Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) to give an idea of how such is these days to the public. [Credit: Manisha Dwa ]

During the high activities in the sun, if some mass is ejected, it is called Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which is of variation and may cause some damage to the spacecrafts and satellite that are orbiting our planet earth. If CME is so dense/hard, then it can be reach to our atmosphere and may inter in our power grid which may damage your electronics.

If you are interested in solar physics, please watch this video produced by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center:

THERE IS NO SPACE DEBRIS REPORTED THAT WILL BLOCK THE SUN FROM US WHICH WILL CREATE THE BLACKOUT AS WE ARE HEARING after the hoax getting viral!

As many of the nepali online media just copied and share this hoax without looking at the panic that it may produced in the society, hundreds of people have contacted us with the fear of darkness, we decided to release this blog post and the facebook post about it!

Here's the video news from the Cosmos News about the hoax released on October 25, 2014 on www.youtube.com :

If you want to explore the fact in other websites, please feel free to visit these links below:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Nasas-six-days-of-total-darkness-in-December-2014-is-a-hoax/articleshow/44963012.cms
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/hoax-busted-nasa-confirms-earth-will-experience-6-days-total-darkness-december-fake-612353
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/27/days-of-darkness-hoax-nasa_n_6052614.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1050964-6-days-of-darkness-on-earth-3-days-in-december-2014-confirmed-by-nasa-are-viral-hoaxes/

Spread this information to people around you so that they can be sure that nothing will happen :)

First Asia Pacific Space Generation Workshop (AP-SGW) 2014 in Japan during November 29-30, 2014!

Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) has announced the first regional regional workshop in Asia Pacific region that will be held in Japan during November 2014. 

The Asia Pacific Regional Space Generation Workshop (AP-SGW) 2014 with a theme "Approaches to promoting Asia-Pacific regional collaboration in the space sector – the next generation perspective"  is a two-day regional workshop for students and young professionals in the Asia–Pacific region in conjunction with the 21^st Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF21) held in Yokohama, Japan during November 29-30,2014. It will be co-organized by the Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University and supported by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

"It is really exciting to organize such a regional event in Asia Pacific which I dreamt to have since I join SGAC in 2009. I am very proud of our team members for their tiresome work to realize this event in November and special thanks to Yusuke Muraki for taking lead to make it happen", said Suresh Bhattarai,Co-manager of the event and Regional Coordinator of SGAC at Asia Pacific. Mr.Bhattarai is Chairman & CEO at Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) promoting Astronomy,Astrophysics and Space Science Outreach, Education and Research in Nepal.

The objective of the AP-SGW is as follows.

1. To strengthen the regional network of the students and young professionals in the Asia-Pacific region
2. To examine and consider key questions in Asia-Pacific region that the regional space community is facing and to provide inputs from the next generation of the space professionals
3. To allow tomorrow’s space sector leaders in the Asia-Pacific region to have the opportunity to interact with today’s space leaders in the region through the cooperation with APRSAF.

One of the primary components of the Asia-Pacific Space Generation Workshop is the working group sessions. Each delegate is assigned into one of five groups. The groups in the break-out sessions discuss a pertinent space topic, which is guided by Subject matter experts from the field, who will join these working groups to support them with knowledge to make the group discussions more fruitful. The preliminary conclusions of each group are presented to the rest of the delegates on the last afternoon of AP-SGW and the final conclusions are written into reports that are presented at the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum

The five topics of this year are:

• Asia-Pacific Space Agency (APSA); Can/should it be realized?
• Evolution of Asia-pacific regional space cooperation
• Future of Asia-Pacific region in 2030-40; How will the transform of the region affect the space sector in Asia-Pacific?
• Technology advancement in 2030-40; How will the evolution of the technology affect space sector in Asia-Pacific?
• Space Outreach programs for the developing countries in Asia-Pacific

Deadline for applications close on the 31st October 2014 on the official AP-SGW website. Applicants will be asked to provide information on their experience in the space sector and their motivations for applying. Based on applicant's interest and prior experience, the AP-SGW delegates will be selected and then assigned to one of the working groups.  The five AP-SGW working group topics will focus on future regional cooperation in Asia-Pacific region in the space sector. More information on this year's working group topics can be found here.

Current leaders from the space sector in the region will be invited to share their passions and perspectives, as well as contribute to the working groups and debate with delegates on the main topics of the workshop.  Conclusions and recommendations from the working groups will be formally collected in a report, which will be shared throughout the following year at the United Nations, at conferences, and with SGAC's partners and supporters.

World Space Week 2014 at Sarangkot, Pokhara!

This year, we celebrated World Space Week 2014 (WSW2014) with the kids,locals as well as visitors at Sarangkot,Pokhara,Kaski,Nepal during 8-9, 2014. Our team visited had two events as a part of WSW2014: Lunar Eclipse Observation Program on October 8, 2014 and Solar Observation Program on October 9,2014 at Sarangkot, one of the most popular hill near Pokhara Valley.

Photo 1: Children enjoying the sun and the sun spots on October 9, 2014 at Bhanjyang Village Lodge, Sarangkot, Kaski, Nepal 

'We are very lucky to have an opportunity to observe the sun with such telescope at this village',said one of the participant of the event. ' We would like to thank Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO)for choosing this village for the activities and hope to have more events in future for our children', he added.

Nainshi Dwa, who looks after NASO program in Pokhara explained,'The active participation of these children is encouraging us for more program at this place in future. I had a short talk with the locals here and they want us to address their children at school very soon.'

Photo 2: Eclipsed Moon as seen from the Sarangkot (~1,600 m), Pokhara on October 8, 2014 by Manisha Dwa, Project Coordinator at Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO)

'We were almost deprived of watching this great event from this hill as clouds started to hover in the sky and started to rain. Though we planned to photograph Draconids that night, we could only see some of them but could not capture due to shower that took place late night', said Manisha Dwa, Project Coordinator.

We are thrilled with the interest of the kinds there and wish to visit the place again with our another observation program in future.

Second National Astronomy Olympiad- LOGO COMPETITION 2014-Deadline Extended!!!

Thank you very much for those of you who showed your interested in this competition. We would like to thank all the applicants for their logos prior to the deadline. As we received many request for the extension so that applicant can submit their work after the festival,we decided to extend the submission deadline till Friday, November 7, 2014. 

Extended Deadline for submission: Friday, November 7, 2014

This Festive season, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) in association with Lotus Holdings Pvt. Ltd. brings you 2nd National Astronomy Olympiad- Logo Competition 2014 with an oppertunity to win a cash prize of NRs 5,000!

First National Astronomy Olympiad -Logo Competition 2013 was a great success which was conducted during December 2013. We expect more designers joining us this year with their innovative ideas and creation to become of part of Second National Astronomy Olympiad which will be held during January to June in Nepal.

Last year, Kapil Rokaya from Bajura bagged the award, who will be the winner this year?

If you are creative, have some skills on desiging, then what are you waiting for? Apply today!

Do you wish to know how to participate in the competition? Here are the rules and regulations for the competition:

Rules & Regulations:

• The logo must include the following themes: ASTRONOMY, EDUCATION & NEPAL and should reflect Second National Astronomy Olympiad 2015
• Maximum of five 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 Saturday, 25th October, 2014 Friday, 7th November, 2014. 
• The best logo will be awarded 5,000 NRs as a cash price and a certificate
• 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

Please note the deadline has been extended till Friday, November 7, 2014! The result will be announced during the second week of November.

Join us at Walk for Nepal-Dallas 2014!

This November, we are coming to your City, Dallas with Walk for Nepal 2014 for a walkathon to raise funds to National Astronomy Olympiad Programme in Nepal. If you live in Texas and supports our work on outreach, education and research work on Astronomy & Astrophysics in Nepal, join us on November 2, 2014 during 12:00-18:00 Hrs at Bachman Lake, Dallas, 3500 Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75220, USA.

You can join us either registering for the programme or sponsoring our walkers for the walkathon.

Lets work together for better astronomy and space science outreach, education and research in Nepal-Lets walk together :)

For more details on the walkathon, please visit the official website www.walkfornepal.org

!!!Looking forward to welcome you to Dallas!!!

RESULT AVAILABLE:National Astronomy Olympiad- Teacher Training 2014

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) is pleasured to announce the result of National Astronomy Olympiad- Teacher Training 2014.

We have received 52 applications  from under graduate students, teachers and communicators from different part of Nepal as well as abroad.  We had very had time to select only five faces from those 52 aspiring and motivated applicant. After the careful review of their application, motitation and engagement in science, we finally decided the five faces as:

1. Mr. Suman Gautam: Bhadrakali Higher Secondary School, Pokhara, Kaski
2. Mr. Ashok Timsina: Mahendra Morang Campus, Biratnagar, Morang
3. Mr. Rajan Prajapati: United Academy, Kmaripati, Lalitpur
4. Mr. Mahesh Poudel: St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu
5. Mr. Santosh Parajuli: Central Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu

They will participate in the upcoming Astronomy Exposure Camp, November 10-13, 2014 at Homi Bhabha Center For Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.

One of the selected participant shared his feeling with us as "I am quite gratified to be selected for the National Astronomical Olympiad (NAO)- Teacher’s Training 2014. To know that after implementing whatever I learn from the program back in my country, I will be a driving force for the recognition of Nepal in an international event (Astronomy Olympiad), gives me immense pleasure. Further, to be a part of a student’s journey of discovering their hidden potential through learning by going beyond the conventional text books. I can sure, will be something to be proud of .Thank you!" 

Congratulations to all the successful applicants and looking forward to have another successful olympiad in Nepal!

APPLY NOW:National Astronomy Olympiad- Teacher Training 2014

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) announces call for application for the teacher training programme that will be conducted during the second week of November 2014. Applicants are requested to fill this form keeping the following points under consideration:

• Maximum of five teachers will be selected for the programme
• Applicants should be a current student of M.Sc. Physics or M.Sc. Physics graduate with Astrophysics as his/her major
• Selected applicants will be obliged to volunteer during the Second National Astronomy Olympiad 2015 that will be conducted during January-June 2015
• Applicants are requested to submit their latest CV to info.naso@gmail.com after submitting this form with a Subject: NAO2015-Applicant's Name

There is no registration fees for this training programme. Selected applicants will be responsible for their travel to the training location and back on their own.

Are you interested to this programme? The online form for the registration is available here.

The deadline for the registration is Monday, September 15, 2014. Applicants will be notified about the their selection via email and telephone on Wednesday, September 17, 2014.

NAO-2014 Starts Crowd Funding Campaign: Lets be a part of great initiative in Nepal!

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO-2014) started its crowd-funding campaign with a goal of 14,000 USD at IndieGoGo on June 22, 2014. Please click here for the campaign page. The campaign send on July 31, 2014. 

Photo 1: NAO-2014 Crowd-Funding Campaign at www.indiegogo.com 

The funding will be used to cover the expenses incurred during NAO-2014, First Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, and to facilitate the participation of the 7 members Nepalese Delegation to 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August 1-11, 2014 at Suceava, Romania.

Photo 2: Winners of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO-2014), First National Astronomy OLympiad, in Nepal held during January-June, 2014.

NAO-2014 presents a short video to tell you the story of The First Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal

Nepalese Delegation will be lead by Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, Program Coordinator of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 Organizing Committee and . The team will be co-lead by Ms. Manisha Dwa, Project Cooridinator at Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and member of NAO-2014 Organzing Committee.

We would like to request all our readers for their valuable contributions for our challenging initiative in Nepal. 

If you have any queries related to the Campaign or to NAO-2014, please feel free to contact NAO Secretariat:

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO2014)

C/o

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO)

H.B. Complex, P.O.Box 3459, 
Ekantakuna, Lalitpur, Nepal

Mobile: +977-9843 70 82 48

Email: astro.olympiad [at] gmail.com

Website: www.nationalolympiad.org

Congratulations to All 5 Winners of NAO2014!

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO-2014) Organizing Committee has announced the result of NAO-2014, First National Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal.

We would like to congratulate all the winners of NAO2014 and wish them all the best for their performance in 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy & Astrophysics (IOAA) during August 1-11, 2014 in Suceava, Romania.

NAO2014 Organizing Committee has issued a press release on the first astronomy Olympiad Delegation representing Nepal in 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy & Astrophysics (IOAA) in Romania.

The National Astronomy Olympiad (NAO) Programme is jointly designed by Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and ESPRO Foundation to encourage Nepalese students with good foundations in Physics and Mathematics and an interest in Astronomy to pursue their further studies in this field.

Pralaya Sessions Yuri's Night Special available now!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) proudly presents "Pralaya Sessions Yuri's Night 2014 Special" , the third annual celebration on Pralaya Sessions!

Pralaya sessions with DJ Prakrity is a weekly uplifting electronic music radio show, a trance.com.np production, and an official fundraiser for Hoste Hainse, a Kathmandu-based non-profit NGO, which supports the education of underprivileged children in Nepal. Pralaya Sessions is now available at www.rvlradio.com as well!!!

For direct listen link: http://tinyurl.com/pralaya146

Pralaya Sessions is now available as a free podcast on itunes... search for us and subscribe!

You can consider signing up for our $2-a-month drive @www.hostehainse.org/donate. all major credit cards accepted, and once you sign up, it will bill your credit card $2 every month. $2 a month may not be much for you, but that's $24 a year, and with 3 such recurring donations we will have collected $72 a year, which educates an underprivileged child for an entire year. So, please sign up and get 2 more friends to sign up! thank you!

More info @ www.pralayasessions.com!

Wish you all a happy Yuri's Night 2014!

Nepal Celebrates 80th Birth Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin- First Man in Space!

Russian Centre of Science and Culture Kathmandu (RCSC-Kathmandu), Nepal Academy of Science & Technology (NAST), B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board, Nepal Physical Society, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and Nepal Science Olympiad are jointly organised a solemn meeting to mark the Cosmonautic Day (April 12) and the 80th Birth Anniversary of the first man in space-Yuri Gagarin at 3:30 PM -5:00 PM, April 9, 2014 at RCSC-Kathmandu.

Photo 1: Dr. Rishi Shah, Academician-Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and President-Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) delivering his experience on Yuri Gagrin's flight to space and the sensation brought to world.

National Astronomy Olympiad (NAO2014) Pre-Selection Result out now!

This is to notify that the result of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 (NAO2014) pre-selection exam held on Saturday, March 22, 2014 conducted by Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and ESPRO Foundation for the participation in 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics to be held in Romania is published.

The following candidates (alphabetical in order) have been qualified for the next step for the further selection of 5 final participants.

The selected candidates are requested to contact at:

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO)

H.B. Complex, P.O.Box 3459, Ekantakuna, Lalitpur, Nepal

Mobile: +977-9843 70 82 48

Email: astro.olympiad@gmail.com

A Solemn Meeting To Mark The Cosmonautic Day (April 12) & The 80th Birth Anniversary Of The First Man In Space- Yuri Gagarin

Russian Centre of Science and Culture Kathmandu (RCSC-Kathmandu), Nepal Academy of Science & Technology (NAST), B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board, Nepal Physical Society, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and Nepal Science Olympiad are jointly organizing a solemn meeting to mark the Cosmonautic Day (April 12) and the 80th Birth Anniversary of the first man in space-Yuri Gagarin at 3:00 PM, April 9, 2014.

If you are interested to take part in this grand celebration of Yuri's Night in Nepal and meet the people from the organizations which have been doing excellent work for S & T in Nepal, you are requested to fill in this form by 5:00 PM, April 8, 2014. 

Please note that we have limited seat available and will be available on first come first serve basis and based on your motivation to be part of this event. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS 5:00 PM, APRIL 8, 2014. 

Solar Observation & Photo Exhibition at Jyoti Kunj Secondary School Pokhara!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) in coordination with Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS), western chapter, organized one day Astrophoto Exhibition and Solar Observation Session during the Science Exhibition at Jyoti Kunj Secondary School, Pokhara, Nepal. The school management has announced three day celebration of their 25th Anniversary with different programs during January 29-31, 2014.

Photo 1: Curious minds looking at the astrophotos and the telescopes during the science exhibition at Jyoti Kunj Secondary School, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal on January 30, 2014.

Photo 2: Father explaining the astrophotos to his young son during Science Exhibition at Jyoti Kung Secondary School, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal on January 30, 2014.

Photo 3: Suresh Bhattarai, co-founder and secretary of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) with volunteers during the Science Exhibition at Jyoti Kunj Secondary School, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal on January 30, 2014.

Photo 4: Coverage of the event on Adarsa Samaaj, National Nepali Daily, published from Pokhara on January 31, 2014.

Photo 5: Curious students waiting for the observation of Sun and its spots through Personal Solar Telescope (PST) during the Observation Session at Jyoti Kunj Secondary School, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal on January 30, 2014.

We would like to thank Volunteers: Jyoti Sharma, Kabita Ghimire, Suresh Baral and Surendra Adhikari for their precious time and dedication.

If you are willing to organize such events at your place, please feel free to contact us. To know more about our regular as well as special programs, we recommend you to follow us here and our facebook page and twitter page

Photo 6: Happiness after the reaction of a child when she managed to see the Sun and the spots during the solar observation session at Jyoti Kunj Secondary School, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal on January 30, 2014 organized to celebrate 25th Anniversary of the school.

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We're looking forward to reach more people with our exciting events enrishing the knowledge of young minds of Nepal!