Application for the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad 2019 is Open!

We are pleased to open the application for the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad 2019! High school students of age between 14-20 years (as of June 30, 2019) are eligible to apply for the program. The first stage of the program will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 12:00 Hrs- 14:00 Hrs in all seven provinces of Nepal. Application deadline is Friday, January 18, 2019. 

Application Form is now available for download. Interested students need to download the application form and submit it to one of our representative/ application centers near them. In order to complete your application, you must include:

• Duly filled Application Form (the motivation section carries 5 marks! So write carefully!)
• Copy of BLE (for students in class 9-10 or equivalent) or SEE (for class 11-12 or equivalent)
• Copy of character certificate
• Application fee (you need to deposit NRs 1, 000- in NASO account visiting one of the Mega Bank nearby you)

With the above documents, you can submit your application file and collect your NAO2019 one T-shirt for free! For the latest updates, visit www.nepalastronomicalsociety.org/olympiad.

National Astronomy Olympiad is generally held at three stages (First stage: entrance, second stage: Pre-closed camp and third stage: Closed camp) between January-June every year since 2014 in Nepal. Since 2014, Nepal is participating at the International Olympiads in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). Nepal started participating at the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) since 2018 and will work to cover all three international astronomy olympiads in 2019!

2nd NASO National Space Art Competition 2018 Result is now Available!

We are pleased to announce the result of the 2nd NASO National Space Art Competition 2018 today! Shruti Gurung, a student at Adhyayan School, Tokha, Kathmandu won the first prize and will receive telescope, certificate, and medals during a program in Kathmandu!

First Prize: Human Beyond Humanity,  2nd NASO National Space Art Competition 2018

The competition was open during September 17 - October 1, 2018, where we received a total of 53 arts from different parts of Nepal which were carefully evaluated by our team. During the world space week, 20 shortlisted photos were placed for the public choice award and Shruti Gurung bagged that award as well!

Space Arts by Arya Joshi from Budhanilkanta School, Kathmandu; Sulav Poudel from Gandaki Boarding School, Lamachaur, Pokhara, Kaski and Unique Pokharel from Koshi Vidhya Mandir, Biratnagar, Morang bagged second, third and consolation prize respectively. They will receive certificates and medals during a program to be organized in Kathmandu soon.

Congratulations to all the winners! 

Reman Bala Bags the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad 2019: Logo Competition!

We are pleasured to announced the Er. Reman Bala as the winner of the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad 2019 Logo Competition. We received a total of 83 logos among which 13 logos were shortlisted for further evaluation. The winning logo will be the official logo of the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad 2019 that will be held next year in Nepal! Er. Bala will receive a certificate and cash prize of NRs. 5,000/- during an event in Kathmandu next year.

After hearing the news, Er. Reman Bala said, 

"Expressing emotions is hard. Explaining it is even harder. Am I forgetting the words I need or emotions have always been like this? 

Perhaps this must be a dream or maybe it's just the sudden surprise of life which made me feel so. Being the winner of the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad Logo Competition 2019 took me back to those days where I used to practice designing for fun. Everything you learn finds its place someday and this competition proved it. 

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank my dad and my mom who sent me to learn to design since class 4. Without them, this would not be possible.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Nepal Astronomical Society for this opportunity."

Er. Bala graduated with B.E. Engineering from ACME Engineering College, Sitapaila, Kathmandu last year and found Kodeonix Krypt Private Limited at Baluwatar, Kathmandu. He mentioned in his application that he got the info about the competition via the Routine of Nepal Banda, a popular social media page (Facebook/Instagram) in Nepal. 

To learn more about the astronomy olympiad program, please visit www.nepalastronomicalsociety.org/olympiad. 

Registration Opens for the Orientation Program in Province Three!

With the successful orientation in province 1, we are pleased to announce the second series to be held in province 3! Students who are in high school level and would like to learn more about our asteroid search and astronomy olympiad program can join us at Southwestern State College, Basundhara, Kathmandu on Saturday, December 8, 2018! Registration is free and remains open till until before midnight, Friday, December 7, 2018!

***Register NOW***

The program will provide participants with first-hand information on our asteroid search program and national astronomy program in person. Participants will also get the latest updates about these programs at the orientation.

About Asteroid Search:

All-Nepal Asteroid Search Campaign (ANASC) is a hands-on astronomy program for the high school students with a unique opportunity to make original discoveries of asteroids. It provides high-quality data to the students to get the taste of astronomical research and discoveries. Prior to each search campaign, two-day workshop is organized in order to familiarize students in a campaign for their successful discoveries!

The program accepts thirty-teams each campaign and runs for several times around a year. Students can form a team of a maximum of five members to participate in this campaign. For more information, www.nepalastronomicalsociety.org/asteroidsearch

About the Astronomy Olympiad Program:

National Astronomy Olympiad is an early stage talent hunt program in Nepal. High school tudents of age 14-20 are eligible for the competition. It's an annual program hence accepts application once in a year. Application for the 6th National Astronomy Olympiad 2019 will open in December 2018! For more information, www.nepalastronomicalsociety.org/olympiad

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Interaction at Central Campus of Technology, Dharan!

On November 30, an interaction was an organized program at the Central Campus of Technology, Hattisar, Dharan to discuss the opportunities in the field of astronomy and space science in Nepal. The program was possible as Free Students Union at the campus invited us to host an event for the physics students at the campus. 

Photo 1: Mr. Chandra Prkash Sah, Head of Department of Physics, Central Campus of Technology, Dharan and Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, Chairman, Nepal Astronomical Society interacting during the event.

Photo 2: Mr. Chandra Prakash Sah, Head of Department of Physics, Central Campus of Technology, Dharan addressing the students and highlighting need of collaborative efforts for research activities at the Department.

We came in contact with the campus authority in April 2018 during our event for the International Day of Human Space Flight (IDHSF2018) in Itahari International College, Morang and had a follow-up meeting in September 2018 to explore the possible collaboration. We believe this event has opened a new door for both of us and an opportunity to work for the students at the campus.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to campus authorities especially Mr. Chandra Prakash Sah, Head of Department and the Free Students Union at the campus. We look forward to working with you!

If you are studying B.Sc. physics at one of the campuses in Nepal and would like to invite us to the interaction, please feel free to contact our office. We will be happy to share our experience, expertise, and resources.