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!

AstroFest on ToV2012- Nepal, July 4-6, 2012

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.