Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO)
in association with Nepal Academy of Science & Technology (NAST), Russian
Center of Science & Culture ( RCSC), Astrophysics and Cosmology Research
Group Nepal ( ACRG-Nepal) -Tribhuvan University ( TU) and ESPRO Foundation organized
three days Astronomy Festival with different programs in Nepal during June 4-6
, 2012 to celebrate the last Transit of Venus of Twenty-first Century. The next
Transit of Venus will occur after 105 years in December 2117. To provide more
opportunity for Nepalese to witness this rare celestial event in different
regions of Nepal, NASO extended its supports to Pokhara Astronomical Society
(PAS) in Kaski, Damak Astronomy Club in Jhapa and Nepal Astronomy and Space
Science Association (NASSA) in Chitwan.
GTTP Session:
A half day workshop was organized
on June 4, 2012 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm as a special session on Galileo
Teacher Training Program (GTTP)-Nepal. This special session of AstroFest on
ToV2012-Nepal was organized in order to increase the opportunity to witness
ToV2012 in Nepal. During the session, hands-on activities on safe solar viewing
techniques were provided to the students from 7 selected schools.
Public Talk Sessions:
On Monday, June 4 and 5, public
talks on ToV were organized at Russian Center of Science and Culture, Kamaladi,
Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu by Associate Prof. Dr. Binil Aryal, Chair-ACRG-Nepal and
by Associate Prof. Dr. Raju Khanal, Central Department of Phycics, Tribhuvan
University (TU) at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Khumaltar,
Lalitpur respectively.
Special Screening of “Acquainted With the Night”:
A special screening of 79 minute
long Gemini Award Winning documentary “Acquinted With the Nights” held on June
4 and 5 at RCSC from 4:30 pm for the first time in Nepal with the special
permission to NASO from the Michael Macnamara, Director of the documentary. “Acquainted
With The Night” is a feature documentary that traces a journey through a night
from sunset to sunrise. The clock dictates the stories as they change, hour by
hour, from 6pm to 6am. Some stories are joined in progress; others begin in one
hour, and resolve in another.
Observation Programs:
An observation program was
scheduled and co-ordinated at different places of Kathmandu Valley as well as
at Damak, Chitwan and Pokhara to have better opportunities for public and
students to observe this rare celestial event from their nearest places.More than 5, 000 people witnessed this unique and rare celestial event in Nepal with NASO.
