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Cover Story

COMET PAN-STARRS

From The News Desk Latest Updates On

UNIVERSE IN THE SCHOOLSPACE EVENTS ASTRO TOURISM

Article

THE FUTURE OFASTEROID DEFENSE -

NEOSSAT

Astroinquisites

FATE OF PLUTO

S P A C E N E W S APR-MAY’13

Monthly Newsletter of SPACE Group

Chief Editor : Sachin BahmbaEditors : Amit Verma & Divya Kanchanbaras

Astronomy At Home

FINDING THE SIZE OF THE SUN

BLOGPOST

Why Spend Money On Space Exploration?

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S NO TOPIC PAGE NO

1 Universe In The School News 3

2 Blog Entry : Why Spend Money On Space Exploration?By – Rishabh Jain, Senior Educator SPACE

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3 Events News 8

4 Cover Story : Comet Pan-STARRS 14

5 Astroinquisites : Fate Of Pluto 18

6 Astro Tourism News 19

7 Article : The Future Of Asteroid Defense - NeossatBy – Mila Mitra, Scientific Officer SPACE

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8 Astronomy At Home : Finding The Size Of The Sun

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INDEX

UNIVERSE IN THE SCHOOL NEWS 

ASTRONOMY DAY CELEBRATIONS ACROSS

SPACE MEMBER SCHOOLS, DELHI

Astronomy Club members from class VI to X of CSE School Step By Step, Noida celebrated Astronomy Day in Feb’2013. Activities like Hydro rocketry, Comet making, safe Solar observation and finding directions without a compass were performed by students. Another Astronomy Day was organized by junior wing too. Kids performed Pop rocketry, Stomp rocketry, Craters on the Moon, Balloon compass, Meteor catching, 3 d pictures of objects of Solar System, Weigh Yourself on different Planets and played Astronomy quiz.

During Astronomy Day celebrations at Navy Children School, Chanakyapuri, the Chief Guest was honorable Mr. G Ojha, Chairman of Naval Society. The parents, teacher and students participated in different activities like astronomy quiz, rocket launching, etc.

Ms. Sandra Swarup, Principal of Arwachin International School, Dilshad Garden said “The Astronomy Day is highly motivating in terms of knowledge, creativity and innovation. Thoroughly impressed!” Another message from Ms. Minakshi Kushwaha, Principal of Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar Students demonstrating various activities during Astronomy Day

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Student exhibiting Comet made by them; Chief Guest Mr. G. Ojha launches a rocket to open the Astronomy Day

“Very nice demonstrations. Students were very keen. Basic concepts were clarified, Good”.

Mr. Desmond D’Monte, Vice Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar quoted - “Enthusiasm of the students was most impressive. Young students explained their work and were able to deal with unexpected questions well, which showed that they had understood the concepts”.

Mrs. Suman Nath, Principal of Tagore International School, East of Kailash said “Good experience, students were excited and loved doing all the activities. Great Job!”.

ASTRONOMY ACTIVITIES AT DPS RK PURAM

In Delhi Public School, R K Puram, the SPACE Club Students celebrated with some Astronomy activities on their annual Sports Day. The Chief Guest Mr. Shushil Kumar (a silver medalist for wrestling in London Olympics’ 2012) launched the Hydro Rocket at the event.

Wrestler Sushil Kmuar Launched a Rocket

Students making Comet at DPS RK Puram 4

ASTRO FUN AT RYAN SCHOOL, ROHINI

On 15th March, Dr. Augustine F. Pinto, Chairman of Ryan International Group of Institutes visited the Rohini branch. To welcome him SPACE’s astronomy club students showcased activities like Hydrorocketry and Comet Kitchen. Dr. Pinto Launched the hydrorocket and appreciated club students. He said “Students have done a good job, many congratulations for the wonderful work”.

Dr. Augustine F. Pinto, Chairman of Ryan International Group of Institutes ready for the launch of Rocket and giving feedback to students

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SPACE EXPLORERS WORKSHOP AT

PATHWAYS WORLD SCHOOL

SPACE conducted a workshop at Pathways World School, Gurgaon on 14th Feb 2013. The workshop was based on the theme “WAYS AND MEANS OF SPACE EXPLORATION”.

School Principal Ms. Meenakshi Singal said “The team of facilitators from SPACE efficiently led the Pathwayzians on their journey to explore the frontiers of space. Students learnt about the life of Astronaut. They were given the hands on experience about the mechanism of rockets.

Students undergoing Lung Capacity Test , a challenge to become an astronaut

Student holding self made rockets

Watch Dr. Pinto in action launching the rocket on

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They experienced the launching of rocket into space in a virtual stimulated environment. Students also learnt about the space explorations conducted, to understand the mysteries of space.”

SPACE PARTICIPATES IN THE INSPIRE PROGRAM OF

DST, GOI AT AMITY UNIVERSITY

Special workshops were organized in partnership with Amity University for the INSPIRE program of Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India. Spread over 4 campuses of Amity, in the month of Jan-Feb, the workshops were a runaway success and participants kept asking for more!

INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) is the flagship initiative of DST and aims to motivate students to pursue science & choose scientific research as a career. Dr. Gurjeet Kaur, Assistant Professor, Amity University of Biotechnology, Lucknow during the Hydro- rocketry and Comet Kitchen workshop in Lucknow said –

“Excellent way of presentation as it is more practical. Looking forward to having such programs at the intermediate and undergraduate level”.

Mr. Suresh Chandra, participating Teacher Ebenezer Higher Sec. School, “It was a wonderful workshop that enhanced the basic and curious impositions of the aspects like comet and the impact of its hit/collision on earth. Please conduct more such workshops. Thank you”.

Students at INSPIRE workshops at Amity University

To Have Fun With Astronomy & For UITS Updates

WHY SPEND MONEY ON SPACE EXPLORATION?

It all started in the cold war, the silent war of technological supremacy

between the former USSR and the USA. As scientists developed rockets, as a

bi-product of that technology took a huge leap, which resulted in household

utilities like the refrigerator, telecom and radio communication, satellite

television, personal computers etc. New medicine is being developed and

research is going on as this is written and all of this is happening 350 kms

above where any of us live in the largest satellite in the world, the International

Space Station (ISS). Astronauts conduct experiments to give insight to various

mysteries of the nature and universe. Satellites have enabled remote sensing

which helps keep a close tab on deforestation, glacier extinction, weather

movement and animal migration patterns. These important studies directly and

indirectly affect our understanding of nature and help us take necessary steps.

Some of these probes are sent away from the earth to study the asteroids and

comets giving us valuable information about the activity of these objects and

one day will help tug one away from a collision course to earth. Spending on

space research not only helps us create and innovate new technology, but also

helps create an open mind ready to accept and adapt to the thought that one

day we will travel interstellar distances and maybe we will meet our cosmic

cousins. They might be waiting for us to catch up on technology. Just a

thought…

A blog entry by SPACE Senior Educator – Rishabh Jain

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ISS EARTHKAM

A 3-day ISS EarthKAM workshop (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) conducted by SPACE, allowed participants to click fascinating pictures of Earth from a unique perspective of space through a camera mounted at nadir point of International Space Station.

ISS EarthKAM is an international educational program of NASA through which participants can select and take stunning, high quality images of Earth from a digital camera mounted on the Destiny lab of the International Space Station. Indian American astronaut, Sunita Williams serviced this camera on her last ISS mission – Expedition 33.

SPACE brought this enthralling experience to the reach of its associated students and also to the general public through this workshop which was conducted at CSE (Centre for student excellence) schools - Step by Step School Noida, Bal Bharati Public School Pitampura and G.D Goenka Public School Rohini & at Indraprastha World School Paschim Vihar from 29th Jan to 31st Jan, 2013.

Students from various SPACE Club Schools - Ryan International School (Rohini), St Margaret Sr. Sec School (Rohini), Amity International School (Vasundhara), Ryan International School (Rohini), Springdales School (Pusa Road), Arwachin International School (Dilshad Garden), Tagore International School (East Of Kailash), Bal Bharati Pubic School (Rajinder Nagar), Amity Internaitonal School (Noida), Bal Bharati Pubic School (Dwarka), St Columba's School (Ashoka Road), Navy Children School (Chankyapuri), Apeejay School (Sheikh Sarai), Vivekanand School (Anand Vihar), Tagore International School (Vasant Vihar) also participated in this event.

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EVENTS NEWS

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SPACE has been coordinating ISS EarthKAM project for last 4 years. This year, SPACE hosted a bigger platform as for the first time it was brought under the reach of common public. There were more than 150 participants including students and general public. A group of 13 students also joined all the way from Mandawa Institute of Technology, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

Participants requested photographs of unusual locations with distinctive geographical features such as- Coffs Harbor beach in Australia, Jaffna Lagoon in Sri Lanka, Finders Island in Tasmania, Western Sahara etc. Places in India of geographic interest or natural beauty were also targeted by a lot of students including rivers, mountains, bays and cities. In all, about 300 pictures were requested.

ISS subsequently photographed the locations and the participants were excited to receive the pictures selected by them and clicked by astronauts on board ISS!

Students participating in ISS Earth KAM 2013

Paraguay taken by Parv Jain, IX-C from Bal Bharati Public School

Picture of Australia clicked by Somya Shroff of class VI from Step By Step School

Egypt taken by Dhruv Chattree, Ryan Int School, Sec-11 Rohini

NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY

SPACE in collaboration with Nehru Planetarium hosted “SPACE Rocketry Festival” under which “Water Rocketry” workshop and competition was conducted on the National Science Day*, 28th Feb, 2013 in Nehru Planetarium. To celebrate the day of science with fun and learning, approximately 150 students and general public joined this competition in a team of four members.

The Chief Guest for the event was Dr. Salil Gupta, Convener Delhi Chapter, Indian Science Congress Association. Dr. Rathnashree, Director, Nehru Planetarium and Mr. CB Devgun, President SPACE judged the event. The event was brain child of Mr. Sachin Bahmba, General Secretary SPACE.

The workshop and competition aims to develop scientific temperament in individuals who are space science enthusiasts and encourages students to explore their full academic potential by building their interest using hands on science activity such as “Water Rocketry” in the spirit of National Science Day.

At the onset of the event, a short film of 10 minutes, on “Raman Effect” was shown to participants. Later a workshop was conducted by SPACE experts to explain about the basic principles of rocketry. After learning about rocketry, participants got down to designing their own rockets under the guidance of SPACE. The basic design consisted of 500 ml empty soft drink bottle, augmented by various paper and cardboard attachments which provided the rods, cones and fins needed to find the perfect balance of stability and weight.

*National Science Day is celebrated across India on 28th Feb to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect by the Nobel Laureate, Bharat Ratna, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman

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Team 2 of Aayush, Zorawar, Akshat and Divyam receiving 3rd Prize from Dr. Ratnashree, Director Nehru Planetarium

Dr. Salil Gupta with the Winner team holding the Trophy along with Mr. Sachin Bahmba (CMD, SPACE) & Mrs. Shalini Bahmba (HOD, Education)

In the final lap of the event all the participants which encompassed all age groups and categories including students, parents and teachers enthusiastically showcased their learning through the launch of their self made models of water rockets. Economical launchers , specially designed by SPACE for the event, were used to launch these rockets.

The winning position was bagged by Amity International School, Saket. First and Second Runners up team were from Ramjas College and Bal Bharati School, Pitampura respectively. Winning scores were determined according to the proximity of their rocket’s landing to the target zones. The judges presented trophies to the winning teams.

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AIASC (All India Asteroid Campaign); one of SPACE’S distinguished and much awaited projects is upcoming in April 2013. After the unprecedented success during the campaign in 2010, 2011 and 2012, we are all set to bring forth another season of excitement!

“All India Asteroid Search Campaign 2013” will be conducted in India in two separate phases. Phase I is from 28th April – 21st June, Phase II, 2nd June - 8th July Each phase will also be preceded by a training workshop.

About the Campaign - AIASC is an exciting opportunity for school children to be involved in real time experimentation and to be at the forefront of research at the international level by finding an Asteroid. This highly prestigious program will enable students to work in parallel with professional astronomers, to study the real astronomy data taken through observatories and expose them to the actual research being done in the field of astronomy. Skills on using astronomical software for data analysis will be imparted to the participants at an extensive specialized workshop held by SPACE prior to each phase.

For other upcoming celestial occurrences follow

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UPCOMING EVENTS

ALL INDIA ASTEROID SEARCH CAMPAIGN 2013

SPACE CALENDAR

2013 is said to be the year of comets! 2 comets were predicted to reach naked eye this year. Among them Comet Pan-Starrs took the lead and was visible from 08th – 20th March, 2013. The Comet Pan-STARRS, known officially as C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) is a non-periodic comet discovered in June 2011. The comet was discovered using the Pan-STARRS telescope located near the summit of Haleakala, on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

Comet Pan-STARRS made its closest approach to the sun on Sunday (March 10), with stargazers reporting that it is visible to the naked eye if you know when and where to look. Till third weekend of March, the comet was visible low in the western sky, just after sunset.

Cover Story – COMET-PANSTARRS

Sky Watching Treat Of Comet PANSTARRS

On successive evenings in March 2013, comet PANSTARRS grew fainter, it continued to get further from the sun, setting later and visible in a darker sky. During April, the comet will become well placed for observing with small telescopes; on the evenings of April 2 and 3 it will be sliding within a couple of degrees of the Great Andromeda Galaxy. By mid-April the comet will become circumpolar — that is, it will remain above the horizon all night as seen from mid-northern latitudes; during late April it will appear to pass through the famous "W" of Cassiopeia.

The progression of comet Pan-STARRS across the night sky in March 2013 is shown in this NASA graphic. CREDIT: Science@NASA

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It may not be the brightest comet in recent memory, but comet Pan-STARRS put on quite a show in the Southern Hemisphere, and now it's moving north. Here are a few things to remember about this rare naked-eye comet:

YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN

Comet Pan-STARRS has an elliptical orbit around the sun that will likely leave it in a 110,000-year path around the sun. It likely took millions of years to make its way into the inner solar system, however. That means if you miss it this year, you'll have to find the secret of immortality to try and catch Pan-STARRS on its next pass.

IT COMES FROM THE OORT CLOUD

The Oort cloud is a mass of icy bodies orbiting the sun out to a distance of about 93 trillion miles (150 trillion km) away - about 100,000 astronomical units - according to NASA. It gave birth to Comet Pan-STARRS, which was flung from the cloud into an orbit that will bring it closer to the sun than it has ever been before.

The location of Comet Pan-STARRS low in the western horizon in March 2013 is shown in this sky map released by StarDate Magazine, a publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas.Credit: StarDate Magazine

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Interesting Facts About Comet Pan-STARRS

IT IS A 'SUNGRAZING' COMET

Pan-STARRS and other comets from the Oort cloud like it come so close to the sun that they get close to breaking apart. If they survive their close encounters with the star, however, they could shine more brightly than most other objects in the sky. This NASA diagram shows the location in the solar system of comet

Pan-STARRS, also known as comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS), as it will be on March 10, 2013, when the comet is closest to the sun. Credit: Science@NASA

IT ALMOST DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW

Astronomers thought that Comet Pan-STARRS wouldn't brighten in the northern sky. Some predicted that the comet's magnitude would fade, making it difficult to see once it passed above the equator, but now scientists expect that the comet may brighten even more when it passes about 28 million miles (45 million km) from the sun on Sunday, March 10 and be visible throughout March before fading in April.

The path of Comet C/2011 L4 (Pan-STARRS) over the next month. Credit: Starry Night Software

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ONE OF THREE COMETS THIS YEAR

In the Southern Hemisphere, Pan-STARRS was seen in the same part of the sky as Comet Lemmon.Come November, after Pan-STARRS has faded from view, Comet ISON could put on the show of a generation, shining more brightly than any comet in recent memory, if predictions hold true.

NOT AROUND FOR LONG

After Pan-STARRS makes its closest brush with the sun on March 10, the comet will begin to dim. Skywatchers with telescopes and binoculars might still be able to see the sungrazer until early April, but it will fade out of naked-eye visibility before the end of March.

Yuri Beletsky, a Magellan Instrument Support Scientist at Las Campanas observatory located in Atacama Desert in Chile, used a Canon 5D Mark II camera with an exposure time of ~ 30 seconds on Feb. 28, 2013 to capture this image of Comets Pan-STARRS and Lemmon. Credit: Yuri Beletsky

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As this was a life time opportunity team at SPACE tried to capture this comet from different locations such as Sariska, Pushkar, Jewar, and Physical Research Laboratory in Mount Abu. Since March 13th was as an optimal day for viewing this comet due to it’s proximity to the crescent moon acted as a signpost. SPACE collaborated with Nehru Planetarium and hosted an observation for stargazers and interested public at the planetarium premises.

At the Nehru Planetarium the public were also shown views of the night sky including Jupiter and the crescent moon through telescopes. As the comet was very low above the horizon, the haze and the bright glare of the evening twilight skies thwarted comet lovers in all these locations except Jewar. Despite several deterrents, SPACE was able to capture the comets image from Jewar on March 13th during a night observation. The entire team present at the sight was happy and everyone applauded as they witnessed this much awaited sight of Comet PanSTARRS.

Comet PanSTARRS, from Space Observation site at Jewar, U.P.; taken by Rishabh Jain, Sr. Educator, SPACE

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Pluto, originally classified as Planet was re-classified as a Dwarf planet in 2006. International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006 stated following conditions which a celestial body has to fulfill to be a “Planet”:

ASTROINQUISITE - FATE OF PLUTO

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It needs to be in orbit around the Sun

It needs to have enough gravity to pull itself into a spherical shape

It needs to be the strongest object in its orbit in terms of gravity

Pluto fulfills the first two conditions but it does not fulfill the third condition. Pluto being very small in size and mass is not the strongest object in its orbit. One of its moons “Charon” is quite smaller than Pluto. Due to this fact, they both revolve around each other. For this reason, Pluto was demoted from Planet to Dwarf Planet.

UPCOMING TRIP – MAY & JUNE 2013

250 plus students get ready to voyage to USA for a 3 Days program at KSCVC, Orlando with extension to New York & Niagara Falls During program at Kennedy Space Center VC students will:

• Feel the thrill of spaceflight through actual motion-based simulators.• Work in teams to investigate space travel in the new millennium.• Perform an actual space shuttle mission simulation.• Step into the Shuttle Launch Experience, using an authentic simulator.● Meet a famous astronaut; Learn about their trips to the outer space

The tour is a must do in a lifetime opportunity for students. With great learning objectives and amazing fun and sightseeing included. It encompasses Space Program along with visit to Disneyworld, Universal Studios Theme Park, shopping, with sightseeing in New York.

ASTRO TOURISM NEWS

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ASTRO TOURS TO WATCH OUT FOR!!

The quest for serving passionate travelers continues! 2013-14 is a superb year for Astro-tourism as there are wonderful celestial events happening. Here is a list of Astro-tourism events not to be missed :

1. Royal Observatory Tour & National Maritime Museum - 5 Days - 3 Nt London & 2 Nt Paris- walking Tour, Full Day visit Stonehenge & Bath with City Tour, visit the Royal Observatory, Board a Themes Cruise to Greenwich Guided Tour, The National Maritime Museum, Paris by Euro Star, Paris Half Day City Tour, Scene River Cruise with Eiffel Tower & dinner at Deck, - Full Day – Disney Walt 2 theme park ticket one Day

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2. Camp at European  Space Centre - 3 Day Camp at Euro Space Centre & 1 Nt Extra in ESC & 2 Nt Paris - 3 Day Camp at ESC, 1 Nt Ext ESC & 2 Nt Paris. Various other combinations available.

WEEKEND GATEWAY

Celestial Getaway & Jeep Safari At Jim Corbett - 2 Nts & 3 Days in Jim Corbett- Sky Watch in day 01 evening onwards, Jeep Safari on day second & Space Treasurer Hunt, Astro Photography Session & enjoy with Adventurer Park activities.

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Want to spend a Weekend without the usual things to do?

Want an offsite with a difference?

Astro Tourism invites you, your family or your company on a celestial retreat during weekends to

Jim Corbett, Ram nagar, Nainital. Gear up for some action, adventure and be ready to

get awestruck by the enthralling night sky!

For further information email : getintouch@astrotourism.in

To stay updated about latest Astro Tours

Asteroids and meteors recently caught the media attention when an asteroid named 2012 DA14 hurtled towards Earth for a close encounter, while an explosion over Russia around that time was attributed to a meteor! On February 15th, the asteroid passed just 17,000 miles from Earth, closer than 'geostationary' satellites. The next scheduled close pass by of an asteroid will be on 13 April 2029, when Apophis will pass Earth closer than the ring of geostationary satellites, however its estimated distance of 19400 miles will make it further than 2012 DA14. Asteroids and meteors cause a lot of concern and fear that they will impact the earth.

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The Future of Asteroid Defense –

NEOSSat- Mila Mitra, Scientific Officer, SPACE

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Some of these concerns may be alleviated by one of the satellites launched via the Indian PSLV recently. PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) launched on Feb 25th morning from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, carrying a total of 7 satellites into polar orbit. Among the seven was NEOSSat , Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite, the first satellite designed to track asteroids. NEOSSat is a Canadian satellite with the goal of tracking meteors and asteroids that may pose harm to earth. It is the first satellite put into orbit specifically to search for and track near-Earth asteroids. It is a small satellite, about the size of a suitcase and will orbit at a height of 800 km above the earth. It will circle the planet every 100 minutes or so, scanning ahead and behind the Earth, and try to pinpoint objects that may have a chance of impacting Earth. Although ground based telescopes have been searching for asteroids, due to NEOSSat’s location in orbit, it is not limited by the day-night cycle, as ground based telescopes are. The satellite is designed to spot and track larger asteroids like Apophis, larger than asteroid DA 14.

The satellite will also be sweeping the sky looking for satellite and space debris. It was originally scheduled to fly in 2010, but delays set it back to 2013. Through NEOSSat, Canada will contribute to the international effort to catalogue the near-Earth population of asteroids producing information that will importantly also help in identification of future exploration sites.

Image of NEOSSat with baffle cover on

SPACE has been collaborating with International Astronomy Search Collaboration for the last 3 years trying to identify asteroids through the a ground based telescope program, All India Asteroid Search campaign. Under this project, parts of the sky are targeted and observed through a 24 inch and 32 inch telescope and then students sift through the data looking for unidentified asteroids. Discoveries and observations of NEO (Near Earth Objects) made through this campaign also contribute important information to NEO programs, both in terms of identification of new NEOs and also in making the orbits of known NEOs more accurately known. Knowing the orbits accurately help scientists track asteroids and predict which ones could be potentially hazardous in their approach towards earth.

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ASTRONOMY AT HOME : FINDING THE SIZE OF THE SUN

STEP 1. Cut a square of about 2 x 2 centimeters out of the centre of the cardboard

STEP 2. Place the piece of aluminum foil over the opening and tape it in place at the edges

STEP 3. Using the pin or any other sharp object, make a pinhole at the center of the foil. You now have a pinhole viewer. Hold the pinhole viewer so that the light from the Sun passes through the hole and falls on a sheet of white paper held behind the hole. Try to make the distance between the pinhole and the paper as large as possible.

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STEP 5. Using your ruler, measure:

a. The diameter of the image of the Sun on the paper  

b. The distance from the pinhole to the paper

6. You can calculate the diameter of the Sun using the following formula:

Diameter of the image of the

SunDistance from the pinhole to

the paper

XDistance

from Earth to the Sun

=Diameter of

the Sun

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