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Astro tour Sauraha 2010 concluded

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) organize a tour to Sauraha during December 27-29,2010 to survey the sky quality and the natural heritage of Nepal. The team comprising 7 people from different sectors and headed by Rishi Shah, president of NASO. This is one the regular events that NASO organises since last year and also it's last event for the year 2010! Wish you all a happy new year 2011!

Report on Geminids 2010 from Nepal is out now!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) conducted Geminids Observation and submitted the data to International Meteor Organization (IMO) for the first time. This submission was possible as Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, founder secretary of NASO and member of IMO joined International Meteor Conference (IMC) 2010 in Armagh, Northern Ireland (UK). He conducted the observation during December 13 and 14, 2010 and observed 30 meteors per hour ( avarage) on December 14, 2010. NASO has predicted 60 to 120 meteors per hour ( ZHR rate) before. Mr.Bhattarai explained "Every year, we have two great moments to enjoy these beautiful meteors one in August i.e. Perseids and another is Geminids with consistent number of meteors". Also, he requested all the Nepalese meteor lovers to wait until January 4 to enjoy Quadrantid Meteor Shower. The reduced number of Geminids was because of the light pollution in Kathmandu valley and of course the peak time fell during a day time i.e. 16:45 NPT ( Nepalese Time)! Th

Geminid Meteor Shower Tonight!

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One of the best meteor showers of the year the Geminids are expected to exhibit consistently prolific flashes of shooting stars in the night of 14 to 15 December 2010. Circa sixty to one hundred and twenty streaks of tiny particles that burn up fairly seventy kilometers high above earth’s surface as they slam through our atmosphere with speeds of approximately thirty five kilometers per hour could be admirably observed in the sky well after the down ( eastern sky) to dusk ( western sky). Since the streaming meteor shower seems to be emanating from a point alias radiant in the sky lying vividly near glittering star Castor (Kasturi) in the zodiacal constellation Gemini (twins), it is conventionally identified as famed Geminid Meteor Shower. The origin of this moderately swift Geminid Meteor Shower is linked to mysterious object called Phaethon-3200 that looks like cross between a weird asteroid and quaintly burned-out comet. Though the shower peaks at 4:45 PM on Tuesday, December 14, 2

NAST celebrates 28th Anniversary on December 6, 2010!

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Nepal Academy of Science and Technology(NAST) celebrated its 28th anniversary at its premises this morning. Addressing the celebration,cheif guest science and Technology State Minister Mr. Indra Prasad Dhungel said that the state will insvent more in R & D in coming days. He explained that the government will be happy to start many interesting projects that Nepalese scientist are dong in their level if they seeks help from the state. Meanwhile, Vince Chancelor Prof. Dr. Surendra Raj Kafle stressed that NAST will help to foster the scientific community in Nepal with its full strength. During the ceremony, several scientist from different areas and the NAST staffs serving over 25 years were awarded.

अप्रिल २०११- विश्‍वव्यापी खगोल महिना: याद राखौं

अप्रिल २०११ फेरी एक पटक सम्पूर्ण खगोलविदहरुकालागी व्यस्त महिना हुनेछ किनभने फेरी एक पटक विश्‍वव्यापी खगोल महिना (GAM ) आफ्नो दोस्रो अध्याय लिएर फर्किएको छ । एस्ट्रोनोमर्स विदआउट बोर्डर्स (AWB) नामक संस्थाले आयोजना गर्ने यस वार्षिक कार्यक्रम अप्रिल महिना भरी संचालन हुन्छ । अन्तराष्ट्रिय खगोल वर्ष २००९ को एक कार्यक्रम '१०० HA' को निरन्तरता स्वरूप ब्रम्हाण्डको उत्सव मनाएर विश्‍वव्यापी खगोल महिना संसार भरी मनाइन्छ । सम्पूर्ण खगोल सम्बन्धित संस्था, पाठशाला, विज्ञान केन्द्र तथा खगोलमा रुची राख्ने व्यक्तीहरुलाई यस महिनामा खगोल सम्बन्धी विभिन्न कार्यक्रमहरु जस्तै सेमिनार, वक्तीत्व, अवलोकन आदी संचालन गरेर यस महिना खगोलको उत्सव मनाउन आव्हान गरिन्छ । विश्‍वव्यापी कार्यक्रम अथवा आफ्नै सोचाइ अनुरूप कार्यक्रमहरु आयोजना गरेर GAM २०११ मनाउन सकिनेछ । यो GAM को दोस्रो अध्याय हो जुन GAM २०१० को अत्याधिक सफलता पछी त्यसैको निरन्तरता स्वरूप आयोजना हुँदैछ । पहिलेको वर्ष AWB ले सातओटा विश्‍वव्यापी कार्यक्रमहरु संयोजन गरेको थियो जसमा आकाशीय पिण्डको अवलोकन, विश्‍व शान्ती कार्यक्रम, प्रकाश प्रदुशण आदीका

December NIight Sky 2010!

-By Er. Rishi Shah As darkness descends on earth the night sky becomes alive with twinkling stars, gleaming planets and other arcane entities that cover the entire sky magnificently. The zodiacal constellations of Capricornus (sea goat), Aquarius (water bearer), Pisces (fishes), Aries (ram), Taurus (bull) and Gemini (twins) are sprawling across the sky from western to eastern horizon. The Great Square of Pegasus (winged horse) is flying high dominatingly in evening sky. Constellations Andromeda (chained princess), Perseus (legendary hero), Lynx (feline animal), Camelopardalis (giraffe) and Auriga (charioteer) are unfurling towards northeast from Pegasus. Fulgent Capella (Brahma Ridaya) decorates Auriga. It is significantly fourty two light-years away. Constellations Orion (hunter), Eridanus (river), Cetus (whale) and Monoceros (unicorn) are spreading across southeastern sky. Circumpolar constellations Draco (dragon), Cepheus (king) , Cassiopeia (queen) and Ursa Major (big bear) are cir

NAST celebrates its 28th anniversary today!

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology(NAST) celebrated its 28th anniversary at its premises this morning. Addressing the celebration,cheif guest science and Technology State Minister Mr. Indra Prasad Dhungel said that the state will insvent more in R & D in coming days. He explained that the government will be happy to start many interesting projects that Nepalese scientist are dong in their level if they seeks help from the state. Meanwhile, Vince Chancelor Prof. Dr. Surendra Raj Kafle stressed that NAST will help to foster the scientific community in Nepal with its full strength. During the ceremony, several scientist from different areas and the NAST staffs serving over 25 years were awarded. ( Full report coming soon)

Pulsating Star Mystery Solved!

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By discovering the first double star where a pulsating Cepheid variable and another star pass in front of one another, an international team of astronomers has solved a decades-old mystery. The rare alignment of the orbits of the two stars in the double star system has allowed a measurement of the Cepheid mass with unprecedented accuracy. Up to now astronomers had two incompatible theoretical predictions of Cepheid masses. The new result shows that the prediction from stellar pulsation theory is spot on, while the prediction from stellar evolution theory is at odds with the new observations. for more on this please visit: http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1046/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EsoTopNews+%28ESO+Top+News%29

The Night Sky over Nepal: November,2010

Nov 1 : The Moon is 5 degrees S of Regulus in the East before dawn Nov 4 : A Waning Crescent Moon is about 7.5 degrees SE of Saturn in the East just before dawn Nov 6 : New Moon Nov 13 : First Quarter Moon Nov 16 : A Gibbous Moon is nearly 6.5 degrees away from Jupiter Nov 17/18 : The Leonids Meteor Shower will peak. This shower has produced meteor storms in the past, but no storm is expected this year. Also the Waxing Gibbous Moon will shine till after Mid-Night. Nov 18 : Neptune Eastern Quadrature Nov 20 : Mercury and Mars are just 1 deg 40’ apart in the W-SW, very low after Sunset. Nov 21 : Full Moon. Nov 22 : The Moon is just 1 deg 30’ away from M45-The Pleiades (after mid night) but an observer will have to use a binocular to glimpse M45. Nov 29 : A Last Quarter Moon is nearly 9 degrees from Regulus PLANET HIGHLIGHTS: MARS : Very low in Scorpius in the Western evening sky in the beginning of month. On 8th at evening Mars will share company with a very thin Crescent Moon and also

NASO participates in the one day US-India workshop on World Wide Telescope, September 4, 2010 at IUCAA, Pune, India

A group of Nepalese delegates comprising Rishi Shah, Academician-Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Founder President-Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO); Madenra Subedi, Founder Treasurer-NASO and Suresh Bhattarai, Founder Secretary-NASO, Research student- St. Xavier's College, Kathmandu, Nepal actively participated in the one day Workshop on world Wide Telescope at Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, India on September 4,2010. The event was This event was co-hosted by Microsoft Research,California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and IUCAA. World Wide Telescope created by Microsoft is a computer program that runs under Microsoft Windows client. It allows users to convert there computer into a virtual telescopethat accesses the virtual sky, not only in optical wavelengths butalso in other bands. There are full-sky images in spectral bands rangingfrom radio to gamma-rays. There are also thousands of individual studyimages of various as

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON "Accretion and Outflow in Black Hole Systems" Kathmandu, Nepal, October 11 - 15, 2010

It's a great news that the International Conference on "Accretion and Outflow in Black Hole Systems" is going to be held in Kathmandu,Nepal during October 11-15,2010 whose scientific scope will be understanding of the process of accretion onto the central black hole and outflows from the system (including the jet formation) in BH binaries, AGNs and GRBs. For more about the conference can be found in the official website of the conference: http://www.iasfbo.inaf.it/events/nepal2010/ The registration deadline is 31 July. Welcome to the land of Himalaya :-)

Reports of GAM2010- Nepal is now availavle!

Astro Quiz Contest 2010, April 1-30,2010 Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) in collaboration with National TV asked four questions related to the astronomy with three options from National television during the GAM2010. People voted by sending sms as GAM_A/B/C to 4321. We announced winners every Saturday. The questions were: · Where does Chhatedhunga lie in Nepal? · What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth? · When was International Year of Astronomy Celebrated? · Where is the National Observatory of Nepal? The participants were from the different parts of Nepal. The winners were Ashim Aaudel, 13 years, Dharan; Indira Chaudari, Dhangadi; Debaki Bhattarai, Kathmandu and Chadani Subba, Tehrathum. The winners were awarded with the one year free subcrpition of Scholar Magazine, Hubble and The Universe (Nepal’s First Astronomical Documentary) and Night Sky (astronomical software). Global Astronomy Month Kicks off officially in Nepal: April 1, 2010 On the first day of GAM, Nepal Astro

SGAC- Nepal Welcomes Youths of Nepal to Join hands in Its Activities!

SGAC- Nepal is working Nepal conducting different activities since 2009.We are very thankful to all our members and welshers for their supportive hands to create wave of space science in Nepalese society for the first time by youth themselves! We are very hopeful for more activities in 2010 with involvement of youths from respective communities in Nepal! Here, as a first step, I would like to request all the youths who have great passion for space science or astronomy ! remember anyone whose age is between 18-35 years and citizen of Nepal can apply for the membership! No matter where you live or what you study! Here are some benefits after joining SGAC-Nepal: * Being part of the youth voice: Have direct input on projects representing the youth view on space topics whose results have the direct ears and eyes of high-level leaders of current government, industry, and non-governmental organizations * Participating in top space events designed for university students and young prof

ASTRONOMY SCHOOL FOR KIDS AT PARASI

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May 24-27, Parasi NASO organized Asronomy School for Kids in collaboration with Filters For Families , a reknown working NGO in Parasi. In the school Prof. of Astrophysics in Colorado University, Suzane Taylor, Vice-President of NASO and Research Student of Astrophysics in Tribhuvan University Mr. Sudeep Neupane, Founder Member of NASO and research Student of Astrophysics Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel introduced different astronomical topics and events. Mr. Madan Dhamala and Mr. T P Adhikari from Central Department of Physcis, Tribhuvan University, were also present to support all the events. Children's from local community of Parasi eagarly participated all the talks, craft projects and observation programme. Glimpses of the events Source: Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO),2010

Night Sky in May 2010!

-By Rishi Shah The night sky of this month displays the elegant beauty of fascinating planets, stars and constellations along with arcane charm of galaxies and nebulae that are spreading all over our universe. As night descends on earth, the zodiacal constellations of Taurus (bull), Gemini (twins), Cancer (crab), Leo (lion), Virgo (maiden) and Libra (scales) are seen unfurling from western to eastern horizon. Constellations Hercules (legendary muscle man) and kite-shaped Bootes (herdsman) with its luminous star Arcturus (Swati) are dominating the evening sky. Dinky Corona Borealis (Northern Crown) is sandwiched between them. Constellations Coma Berenices (Berenice’s Hair), Canes Venatici (hunting dogs) and Leo Minor (small lion) are stretching in western sky. Lyra (harp), Cygnus (swan) and Aquila (eagle) are gliding gracefully in northeastern sky. Their stars Vega (Avijit), Deneb and Altair (Sravana) are sparkling alluringly. The unique Spiral Umbrella Galaxy NGC4651 that is merely thi

GAM2010-NASO Expedition to Far East Nepal!

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Happy New Year 2067 B.S. to all of our readers and Well-wishers!

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Nepal Astronomical Society(NASO) wishes to all our friends,readers of our blogs and well- wishers a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2067 B.S. We hope this year helps to further strengthen our activities to create astronomical awareness in Nepal. We are very thankful to all our friend and supporters for their continuous supports and inspirations go implement our plans to the society. We seeks such supports and collaborations with different astronomical communities in future to reach more and more people of Nepal to collect their experience when first looked through the telescope and interacted with the people like us :-) Photo:Star Gazers in Kathmandu pointing to the thundering area on the eve of new year 2067! Photo: Star Gazers looking at the evening sky through the binaculars on new year's eve on April 14,2010. Once again, wish you all HAPPY NEW YEAR 2067- NAYAA BARSA 2067 KO HAARDIK MANGALMAYA SUBHAKAAMANA!

Astro Quiz Contest on National TV is now Available!

It's a Sun Day: another GAM2010 event in Nepal!

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Nepal Astronomical Society(NASo) organized an event to mark Sunday, global program of GAM2010 here in Nepal on Sunday,April 11,2010. The program was organized in H.B. Complex during 14:00-17:00 Hrs for the public to view the Sun through 8 Inch Dobsonian and some solar eclipse glasses. Unfortunately we could not show Sun spot to the participants during the event:-( Did you find Sunspot during the time in your region? P hoto:NASO Executive members ready during the completion of Solar Observation with the telescope. From left: Mr. Rijendra Thapa ( founder member),Mr.Sudeep Neupane (founder vice president),Er. Rishi Shah (founder president),Mr. Suresh Bhattarai ( founder Secretary) and Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel ( founder Member) Photo: 8 inch Dobsonian from Sky Watcher used for solar observation. This telescope was bought with the help of TWAAN in 2009 for better outreach in Nepal. Photo: Mr. Rijendra Thapa, Founder member and NPoC of SGAG for Nepal, Mr. Sudeep Neupane, Founder Vice President o