Cover Story

M A N G A L Y A A N : a steal at Re.4 per

person!

From The News Desk Latest Updates On

UNIVERSE IN THE SCHOOL SPACE EVENTS SCHOOL IN FOCUS :BBPS, GANGARAM ASTRO TOURISM

From The News Desk Latest Updates On

UNIVERSE IN THE SCHOOL SPACE EVENTS SCHOOL IN FOCUS :BBPS, GANGARAM ASTRO TOURISM

ASTROINQUISITES

Why Does The Earth Only See One Side

Of The Moon?

S P A C E N E W S Dec’13

Monthly Newsletter of SPACE Group

Chief Editor : Sachin BahmbaEditors : Amit Verma & Divya Kanchanbaras

ASTRONOMY AT HOME

Making a Kaleidoscope

BLOGPOST

Education Reforms &

Astronomy Learning in India

Guest Article:

BOUNTIES OF

WINTER SKIES

INDEX

UNIVERSE IN THE SCHOOL NEWS

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SPACE EXPLORERS

SPACE conducted series of age-specific fun hands on astronomy workshops for various schools in Delhi & NCR during Nov’13 :

(Above) -Students learning about phases & (Below) observing Moon through telescope

(Above) -Students learning about phases & (Below) observing Moon through telescope

(Above) -Students learning about crater formation on moon and (Below) observing moon through telescope

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To Have Fun With Astronomy & For UITS Updates

(Above)-Students observing Sun Spot with the help of telescopic projection & (Below) observing sun safely through pinhole projector

(Above) -Students making comet & (Below) winners of comet kitchen competition

EVENTS NEWS

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40 Indian schools and institutes participated, including 6 CSE Schools - IP Dwarka, IP Paschim Vihar, Step by Step Noida, GD Goenga Gurgaon and Noida, BBPS Pitampura. Students shot a plethora of impressive deep sky objects including galaxies such as Andromeda, nebulae such as Orion nebula, Coccoon nebula, Running Man nebula, Horsehead Nebula and Star clusters. Comet ISON and Comet Lovejoy were also successfully imaged. For the 1st time, students from DAV Begusari, Bihar and schools from Chandigarh joined SPACE for this project.

SPACE is the 1st ever organization in India, who organised and conducted the International project “Internet Telescope” independently using the advanced Itelesope network with Indian students in October and November 2013. Itelescope is a network of telescopes situated in New Mexico USA, Spain, and Australia, which is an internet telescope operated via a computer user interface which lets the remote observer select deep sky images, select filters and adjust exposure time and control the telescope with these parameters to get stunning pictures of celestial objects. SPACE also collaborated with Ironwood North Observatory in Arizona, USA to give access to 12 inch and 16 inch telescopes that students could remotely control.

PAST EVENTS

INTERNET TELESCOPE

For other upcoming celestial

occurrences follow

SPACE CALENDAR

Photographs taken under Internet Telescope

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M31 spiral galaxy M42 Orion

NGC7293a Helix nebula by SPACE President : C.B Devgun Comet 2013 R1 Lovejoy BY SPACE Educator Rishabh Jain

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SPACE and Nehru Memorial Museum and Library jointly held two Comet ISON workshops recently to prepare students and public to get ready for observing the comet of the century, predicted to get brighter as it crosses perihelion at the end of November! The 1st workshop on Nov 8th was conducted inside the planetarium sky theater, wherein the participants viewed the changing position of the comet ISON over time presented by Dr. Rathnasree, Director, Planetarium. Sessions also included historical and science discussions on comets as presented by Mila Mitra, Scientific Officer, SPACE. Mr. CB Devgun, President, SPACE conducted a hands-on exercise on imaging the comet with camera inside the dome. The advanced workshop was held on 18th Nov. where Dr. Rathnasree, Director, Planetarium talked about what are celestial coordinates and how to locate Comet ISON in the sky. Mr. C.B. Devgun, President -SPACE conducted a hands on session where students tried to image the stars on the dome of the planetarium and explained how to change parameters to do photography in the dark of the night sky. Mr. Anurag Garg, educator concluded the workshop by demonstrating analysis of comet data to get statistics. An evening session was also conducted wherein participants were taught how to track and photograph celestial objects such as Venus as practice for capturing ISON. Students from about 20 schools participated including Indraprastha Dwarka, BBPS Pitampura and Rohini, Queen Mary’s School, Amity International School and also several members of Astronomica (amateur astronomy wing of space).

PAST EVENTS

COMET ISON WORKSHOP

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PAST EVENTS

SPACE Participation in National Children Science Congress, U.P.

National Children Science congress event was organized on 8 Nov - 10 Nov 2013 at Mahamaya Balika Inter College. The program was sponsored by DST (Department of Science & Technology) and a local organizer. Around 300 students participated along with their 150 Science teachers and 100 coordinators.

Total number of project submissions from all over UP were 253, out of which 42 were short listed for participation at the National level. The evaluation was done on the basis of theme work analysis /originality/ concept/ Team work / New innovation. The Judges were eminent members of DST and Vigyan Prasar.

The event was inaugurated by Minister of Science and Technology, UP state - Mr. Abhishek Mishra. Prominent members like Prof. Yashpal Sharma and Dr. Madhu Phul were present to grace the occasion. The whole event was coordinated by Ms. Veena Mishra, an active member of DST, UP state.

SPACE was represented by Mr. Amit Verma, CEO and Ms. Anju Khanna, R.M - Client Relationship, SPACE. Mr. Verma presented the Hon. Minister with a Telescope and the inauguration was done by the Chief Guest by launching the Hydro Rocket. The launch created a buzz of excitement throughout the campus.

SPACE also conducted evening Observation for more than 100 students attending the event, on the same day. The efforts were appreciated as this opened a new dimension for the participating students, further encouraging them to actively pursue Science.

9Mr. Abhishek Mishra (Minister)with Dr. Yashpal Sharma and Dr. Madhu Phul

Mr. Amit Verma meeting with the Minister The Minister being briefed by Mr. Amit Verma before the launch

Photographs from the event : National Children Science Congress, U.P

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PAST EVENTS

SPACE in collaboration with Amity University conducted workshop under the INSPIRE initiative of Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India

On 28th of November, SPACE, a pioneer organization working towards the development of science and astronomy in India conducted one day workshop on Hydrorocketry and Safe Solar observation to train students from various schools near Manesar and NCR region. The workshop is an initiative of INSPIRE program by DST (Department of Science and Technology) in collaboration with Amity University. Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), is an innovative programme sponsored and managed by the Department of Science and Technology, India. The basic objective of the program is to teach students about the excitement and the broad scope of science to further help the country build the required resource for strengthening and encouraging Science and Technology system and R&D Base. SPACE has been associated with this initiative of DST for past 2 years.

SPACE, conducted one day workshop on Hydrorocketry and safe Solar observation to train students from various schools near Manesar and NCR region, on 28th of November,. The workshop is an initiative of INSPIRE program by DST (Department of Science and Technology) in collaboration with Amity University. Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), is an innovative program sponsored and managed by the Department of Science and Technology, India. The basic objective of the program is to teach students about the excitement and the broad scope of science to further help the country build the required resource for strengthening and encouraging Science and Technology system and R&D Base. SPACE has been associated with this initiative of DST for past 2 years.

Workshops were conducted by SPACE Educators at Amity University, Manesar. Meritorious students of Class 11th and 12th who were pursuing science as their career option participated in the workshop. Students of Amity International, Delhi Public School, Kendriya Vidyalaya took part in the event. The Guest of Honors for the day were Dr. Gunjan M. Sanjeev, Director – International Affairs and Major Gen. Gurpal Bal, Dean – Student Welfare from Amity University. Solar Walk, safe solar observation and Hydro rocketry workshops were conducted for the students.

Hydro rocketry launch by the Chief Guest was a fitting FINALE to the event.

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INSPIRE program photographs

Space Experts displaying Solar Projection through a Telescope to the students

Students attending the session on Solar ObservationChief Guest Dr. Gunjan from Amity University is at the site of Demo Launch

Chief Guest Major Bal (Left) and Dr. Madhukar (Right) from the Amity University launching a Dummy Rocket

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The December solstice occurs on Dec. 21st 2013. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere. Join SPACE at Jantar Mantar 21st Dec, 9:30am to 1:00pm to participate in Project Paridhi, a hands on science activity to measure the circumference of the earth using simple backyard tools following the ancient Eratosthanes method, Or conduct it at schools using innovative gnomons.

REGISTER NOW FOR PROJECT PARIDHI : CLICK HERE

UPCOMING EVENTS

PROJECT PARIDHI WITH SPACE ON WINTER SOLSTICE

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Blog : Education Reforms & Astronomy Learning in India

Today we are in year 2013 and as we look around the schools we have, I find some highly sophisticated classrooms, huge playgrounds with courts for varied games like basketball, high tech classes and students who actually want to go to school! Now this last factor takes all my attention and makes me go back to my school time when going to school was not even the last thing on my wish list! School always reminded me of deadly homework, punishments and examinations.

Well thanks to the education reforms introduced in the last 6years, our education system has made students come to school with interest; students now show curiosity to explore. They have ample of opportunities to gain learning experience from their daily classroom activities. The best part is the fact that they no more observe or only listen to their teacher. Rather they give several attempts for a task, without fearing the end result. No more students think of positions gained in the class. All they know is to understand a concept from their teacher and apply their understanding in some practical application.

Another important aspect of this system is it being skill based and not subject dependent. In other words, the focus to teach students is not on five ever known subjects, but on defined skill sets. This philosophy could also be seen in the phrase "Give a fish to a man and he gets the food for a day; Give him the skill to catch fish, and he will have his food for lifetime".

At SPACE, our focus is to enable students to learn skills which could help them in their lifetime. Let them actually work, let them explore different possibilities without entering the zone of end result.

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Our astronomy programs are designed to ask questions, interact with universe, work in teams, experiment , use technology, understand life its importance, solve problems, apply theoretical knowledge into practice, take initiative, organize events, be curious, think critically, analyze, create, respect individuality, emerge as confident individuals who recognize their strengths, can handle stressful situations and become problem solver cum creative thinkers.

Also, it gives us ample opportunities to collect observations which help in interpreting student behaviors, so we come forward, train our educators to observe and record these observations and provide our schools with assessments and observations

We advocate and participate in the Continuous and Comprehensive system of Evaluation (CCE) followed by our schools and felicitate the idea of joyful learning.

Our endeavor is to inculcate scientific reasoning by incorporating varied learning styles, motivating students to learn from their surrounding universe, and help them acquire skills to handle simple to complex scientific equipments to become amateur astronomers and astro photographers, scientists, educators. We aspire to create a passionate league who shall contribute towards reformation of Indian Education System, with its novel concept of Continuous and Comprehensive System of Evaluation.

-Shalini Bahmba, Head R&D Team &Jinny Dhanna, Ex- Astt. Mgr. Trainings, SPACE

SCHOOL IN FOCUS BAL BHARATI PUBLIC SCHOOL, GANGARAM

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Bal Bharati Educational Philosophy

It provides comprehensive education keeping in view the country's rich heritage and cultural background and opens opportunities for the development of different facets of the child's personality. Besides academic excellence and intellectual development, the school endeavors to help each child discover and develop one's innate talents and abilities. It seeks to instill in the children good habits, positive attitudes and values.

Bal Bharati Public School, Ganga Ram Hospital Marg has had a wonderful Educational alliance with SPACE through the Astronomy Club and participating in various Projects, Events and Competitions organized by SPACE, since 2004.

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Today, the world strives for excellence. Old methods of teaching and learning are becoming redundant in this age of technological advancement. And the demands of the profession except more creativity and confidence in the new recruits. Astronomy club is one such endeavor, where school provides its students a platform to hone their scientific skills. The club is based on the ideals of learning by doing. Students as young as those studying in VI Std are guided to use their judgment in focusing telescope at celestial bodies. They also use their imagination to visualize life on other planets. They are encouraged to envision how they can reach beyond the boundaries of our universe.

All these activities broaden their horizon and give wings to their imagination besides empowering them with confidence and scientific temperament that would impact their entire life. It will definitely help them become a better citizen of tomorrow. - Message by Mr. L.V. Sehgal, Principal

Mr. L.V. Sehgal, Principal BBPS, Gangaram

Pragya Chawla and Aparajita Agarwal getting felicitated for their rare discovery in 2011

Mr. L.V. Sehgal inaugurating Astronomy Day in School, 2013

School In Focus : BBPS, Gangaram

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Principal in presence of C.E.O. SPACE presenting Prasun Chaowdhary with prize won in the painting competition held by SPACE during World Space Week, at a special assembly arranged in the school

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Today also the word ‘space’ instills a feeling of joy within me. I become nostalgic about my days of deep association with the organisation which began way back in 2003, when I was given the charge of Astronomy Club . VAMANA project, project KHOJ , Solar Eclipse coverage came my way and soon the Club activities became a habit for me . Students got training of ‘Heads & Hands’. I saw in them an ability to convert ideas into things. Pragya Chawla and Aparajita Agarwal became International Stars with their hunt of rare Asteroids. With these achievement of students, Club became a highlight of the School .

-Message by Ms. Poonam Sondhi, Former Club Coordinator

Group photo of Club students on Astronomy Day,2013

School In Focus : BBPS, Gangaram

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The club gently prods its student members to gain knowledge through observation, research and experimentation. Thrills and pleasure of learning through self-effort is not only motivating but also ensures constructive use of student’s time. At the same time our Astronomy Club presents a platform for students to give creative expression to their scientific skills. Activities like model making, data collection, reading sky map to locate stars, planets and constellations and the likes help the student learn valuable lessons of life like self-discipline, hard work, group-coordination perseverance and dedication to work. Swelling no. of students for the club membership, year after year, surely indicates that the club is the true platform for the budding scientists.

Message by Ms Anjali Virmani, Present Club Coordinator

Students painting during the World Space Week, 2011

School In Focus : BBPS, Gangaram

Cover Story

M A N G A L Y A A N : a steal at Re.4 per person

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India’s space mission termed Mangalyaan, the voyage towards the planet Mars, was launched on November 5, 2013. It was what one calls a “textbook” launch with zero error, and one that has made India say “Yes, we can”. And in 300 days, it will have covered 680 million kilometers to orbit the Red Planet on September 24, 2014. Once that happens, it will start analysing the surface of the planet for any methane, a gas which is believed to hint at the presence of any Martian biology or life forms.

It is a proud moment in the history of India, a nation that started its space programme just about 50 years ago. With the Mangalyaan experiment, some say that India has “arrived” as a member of technically advanced nations.

Is It Worth?

Yet some voices have been raised in the country about whether this is worth it, whether it is a meaningless bombast, and whether this money of Rs 460 crores spent on Mangalyan could not have been used to feed the starving millions across the country. India is a land of stark contrasts. Half the people here live on less than two dollars a day, of which many are estimated to live on even less than Rupees 30 a day.

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Mangalyaan Costs Rs.4/- Per Person In India!

To this, the criticism, the Space Commission Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan responded saying that every rupee spent here benefits people all across India. To put it in perspective, he said that Mangalyan cost each of us 115 crore Indians about Rupees Four.

What has the “aam admi” got out of these four rupees; or even forty or four hundred, counting over the year? Plenty! Recall how Indian satellites hovering around us give us real time information on weather, information to fishermen and coastal farmers on the tides and fish flock, on the state of ships and other vessels near and far from the coast, carry radio and TV waves, and most of all help in saving lives of millions. Why To Invest In Space Exploration – The BIG Picture

Thanks to help from our space programme, the loss of lives in the recent cyclone Phanini was limited to 44 and almost a million people were saved by prior evacuation. Earlier cyclones, when we did not have this facility of early warning killed tens of thousands. Yes, but why to Mars? Herein is where the idea of development becomes important. India is still thought of as a “developing nation”, once ridiculed as a “ship to mouth” economy.

How Does Development Occur? When And How Does A Country Become “Developed”?

Development has multiple components: proper food, clothing and shelter for the people; adequate education and culture; good health; good environment; equal opportunity for all; ability to defend from enemies; economic stability and growth; and above all, good governance, all leading to a feeling of justifiable national pride. If you look at any one of these above components, technology plays a vital role in it. Technology comes out of logical, scientific and rational thought and its application.

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The greatest thing about technology is that it is scalable to millions, it becomes cheap and affordable once it is spread, demanded and used; it can thus offer convenience and progress for the entire nation. Thanks to technology, we have now moved from “ship to mouth” to a “silo to ship” economy, and we rid ourselves of smallpox and polio, and are vaccinating all children against some common childhood diseases.

It is here that Mangalyan is relevant. The 460 crores expenditure has several useful effects. We are using the latest technology, indeed creating new ones, and at a frugal cost. Mars missions by European or American countries would be at least thrice costlier. And the design, building, testing and setting up have all been done by Indian engineers. Only some vital components are imported. It has thus led us to be self-sufficient and advanced our capabilities. The technological prowess to aim for Mars means that we can apply it, and even better it for terrestrial needs at home. It also brings us business (recall that we pack the payloads of other countries in our satellites). It has captured the imagination of youngsters (over 2 lakh “likes” on Facebook by 18-21 year-olds). Mangalyan thus is a tool to attract youth and advance science.

It is therefore not an expense but an investment for the future. Today it is Mars, tomorrow even greater challenges. Should India not be ready? Mars is thus a metaphor.

Should these 460 crores not have been spent on feeding the poor? Look at the larger picture. The budget of India for the year 2013-14 is Rs 16,65,297 crores; this amounts to an individual amount of about Rs 14,500 per person. We have budgeted Rs 27,049 crores for agriculture (Rs 235 per Indian), plus Rs 33,000 crores on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA, to help the rural poor, which is another Rs 280 per person.

Money is thus earmarked and distributed to help the rural poor (Mangalyan has not taken away even a rupee out of these allocations). Despite these efforts, there are large holes in the programme, thanks to inefficient governance. If we can tighten this up, complaint about feeding the poor will be far less or can even vanish. Here too, technology helps through efficiency, cutting out the middlemen and so forth. Compared to these, Rs 460 crores on Mangalyan, or Rs 4 per Indian (about an onion or two) is not just a grand bargain but a steal!

*Source: The Hindu

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WHY DOES THE EARTH ONLY SEE ONE SIDE OF THE MOON?

The moon rotates exactly once as the time it takes to revolve once around the earth which is the reason why it shows only one face at the Earth. If you face a pole and move around the pole showing your face at the pole all the time, you will notice that you have rotated once per revolution around the pole.

Why has this happened to the Moon?

It is due to tidal forces of the Earth. You know that the Moon's tidal forces causes the high and low tides on the Earth. In the same way, the Earth exerts tidal forces on the Moon which are more powerful as the Earth is more massive than the Moon. It turns out that these forces exert torques on the rotating system and tends to slow its rotation till it finally shows the same face towards the other body. Hence, it is the effect of tidal forces of the Earth on the Moon that have caused the Moon to show only one face to the Earth.

Let’s explore the world !!Astro Tourism Summer 2014 Programs are on

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Few Sites to explore : KSC, NASA European Space Centre Astroport Sariska

Exciting Locations : London Paris Orlando Spain Auckland Singapore Malaysia

To stay updated about latest Astro Tours

GUEST ARTICLE - Bounties of Winter Skies

By C.B Devgun, President – SPACE Foundation

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Winter is creeping in slowly and so are some of the jewels in the night skies!! Winter has got so much to offer to us astronomers. Skies are getting clearer and of course we are getting more of the night as the earth’s axis tilts away from the sun resulting in longer nights. Summer milky way will be missed but then we have so many other wonders of the sky to look at throughout the night that its absence won't be felt. Gone are the days when dusty skies used to ruin the overnight observations and cloudy skies used to tease astronomers to have a look at the heavens up there. The air is drier and unless the fog sets in the later part of winters, you have the pristine dark skies at your disposal. Orion the hunter, canis major the bigger dog, Auriga the charioteer, Taurus the bull, pleiades cluster and so many others constellations and asterisms will fill the skies. these objects will suffice the need of any astronomer, be it with naked eye, binoculars or telescopes, there is something for everyone!!

These days, in the southern and eastern part of the sky around 9 pm, you should see a lot of bright stars. Perhaps the most obvious is Orion, with for bright star forming a quadrangle around three 2-nd magnitude stars nearly in a straight line.

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This is Orion the Hunter; to the upper left if the bright star Betelgeuse, which looks slightly orange, and to the lower right is a bluish-white star; this is Rigel. In-between these, Orion's three belt stars are difficult to miss, as they are similar in brightness to each other, and just three degrees across. If you go down towards left making an imaginary line joining the belt stars, you will find the brightest star in the sky, Sirius.

This star is the lead star of Canis Major, the Big Dog of Orion. To the east and above Sirius at this time of year is another 1-st magnitude star, Procyon of Canis Minor. There are just two stars that really make up this small, unremarkable constellation. But all these descriptions should not take your attention away from the Great Orion Nebula or M42 in orion which glows remarkably and is a treat to eyes in any sort of optical instrument, be it binoculars or telescope no matter how small or Big, it will never fail to leave an impression on your eyes and mind!!

Also toward east, you can't miss Capella, the brightest star in the pentagon shaped Auriga the Charioteer. And remember where Procyon is? Now look above a line across these stars, about halfway between them. Late in the night You should see the “twins” of Castor and Pollux in Gemini. You can draw a very large hexagon from Capella, to Castor/Pollux, then to Procyon, Sirius, over to Rigel at the lower/right corner of Orion, and back up to Aldebaran in Taurus. This is known as the “Winter Circle” or “Winter Hexagon.”

ASTRONOMY AT HOME - KALEIDOSCOPE

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This time we are going to make a Kaleidoscope. But do you know what a Kaleidoscope is?

It is a toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of colored glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns when the tube is rotated.

A Kaleidoscope operates on the principle of multiple reflection, where several mirrors are placed at an angle to one another, usually 60°.

Now let’s learn to make a Kaleidoscope

Material Required:

• 3 Mirrors of same length (Rectangular or Trapezoidal)• A pair of scissors• Broad tape

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The KALEIDOSCOPE is ready and now you can see beautiful patterns of the objects around you by the phenomenon called REFLECTION

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If you are interested please follow the link of company website to see the job details:

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