BHUBANESWAR: NISER Astronomy Club in collaboration with Nakshatra, the astronomy society of IIT Bhubaneswar, organized a live astronomy session at the MHR Sports ground of IIT Bhubaneswar here Wednesday.
The aim of the session was to facilitate observation of the transit of International Space Station (ISS) in front of the Moon (which is a rare event). It was successfully captured through one of the five telescopes having an aperture of 11″ as the ISS was passing through Jatni skies.
The station was also viewed through four other telescopes. Speaking on the occasion, R.V Rajakumar, said, “Observing through a telescope is an experience that gives a first hand and closer view of the sky and the universe. The station was also viewed through four other telescopes. I am sure it is going to be an informative and knowledgeable session for NISER and IIT students.”
The event was well attended by about 100 students, faculty, staff members and their families between 18:00-20:00 hrs. Rajakumar emphasised on the importance of having breadth in Astronomy courses for engineering and science students. He complemented the students of both NISER astronomy club and Nakshatra, IIT Bhubaneswar, for successfully arranging viewing of the space station through a telescope.
The participants were mesmerised by the beauty of the Moon’s craters, Sirius Binary Star System, Orion Nebulae and various other astronomical objects gazed through the telescope.