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!