Globe at Night - Great Indian Star Count

GLOBE AT NIGHT- NORTHERN HEMISPHERE and GREAT INDIAN STAR COUNT
March 22nd - April 4th

PHASE II begins....

Thanks to all of you who participated in the first phase of Globe at night!

 

Globe at Night Northern Hemisphere is the 2nd 2-week campaign that helps to address the light pollution issue locally and globally. We urge everyone to participate and quantify the data. The 2nd campaign is from March 22 to April 4th, 2010 - using the LEO constellation. Under the campaign, observers will record the brightness of their night sky by matching its appearance toward the constellation Leo with star maps of progressively fainter stars found at http://www.globeatnight.org/observe_magnitude.html

Submit your measurements on-line at http://www.globeatnight.org/report.html with your date, time and location. Remember to send SPACE a copy at info@space-india.org, so we can track the results and build a database.

 

SPACE will be coordinating this campaign and Great Indian Star Count in India. Register through www.projectdarkskies.org and receive a participation certificate. To learn the steps to participate in the Globe at Night program: http://www.globeatnight.org.

We except the same motivation and interest from the observers around the country this time as well.

Note, A special Globe at Night session will be conducted during Earth Hour on April 26th at India Gate at a session hosted by Astronomicans. This will enable collection of data before and during Earth Hour data when lights are switched off!

'Supermoon' on March 19th

Effects of the supermoon

 

By now you may have heard the hype making the rounds on the internet about the ‘Supermoon’ that will occur on March 19^th and how it is going to create large scale natural calamities around the world! The tragic earthquake in Japan followed by the tsunami and volcanic eruption have made people even more panicky as the supermoon approaches, as this appears to provide support to this theory! Lets find out more about this, and if it could happen! 

'Supermoon' as coined by Astrologer Richard Nolle is a situation when the moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than on average (90% or more of its closest orbit) at its perigee point, and  the moon is a full or new moon. On the 19th, the moon will be only 221, 567 miles from earth, the closest point (while at the full moon phase) in 18 years. "The full Moon of March 19th occurs less than one hour away from perigee--a near-perfect coincidence that happens only 18 years or so," says Chester of the US Naval Research Lab. 

Distances between Earth and Moon:

Here are some numbers to understand the distances – Distance between Earth and Moon:           

At average Apogee (Furthest) – 405,696 km

At average Perigee (Closest) – 363, 104 km      

At closest perigee (Supermoon) on March 19th – 356,577 km

Distance on March 11^th, Day of Japan Earthquake – 3,94,000 km (Closer to Apogee!)

Effects of the Moon position:

The Sun and Moon do have a small but measurable effect on tides, in general. When the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a straight line, that is, at new or full Moon — these effects are maximized and high and low tides are created, but these effects are minimal.

A perigee full Moon brings with it extra-high "perigean tides," but this is nothing to worry about, according to NOAA. In most places, lunar gravity at perigee pulls tide waters only a few centimeters (an inch or so) higher than usual. Local geography can amplify the effect to about 15 centimeters (six inches)--not exactly a great flood.

During full and new moons, "you see a less-than-one-percent increase in earthquake activity and a slightly higher response in volcanoes," seismologist John Vidale said. However, the moon's gravitational pull at lunar perigee (the closest approach of the moon during its orbit) does not have a significant effect, said John Bellini of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Note that on March 11^th, the day of the Japan earthquake, the position of the moon was closer to apogee (which is the furthest point) than perigee and not yet close to the average perigee point, so in that regard should not have been the cause of the earthquake in Japan!

Note that there are several supermoons that take place, about once a year. Very few have had any calamities happening at that time. This one happens to be the closest where it is also closest to the full moon (at the same hour) taking place in 18 years; although the moon was in fact closer placed in 2008 but the full moon phase then was 4hours after the perigee point!

Overall, it is unlikely that a supermoon will have more than a minor effect on weather and natural phenomena!  Previous incidents where it may have happened are judged to be a coincidence. So, go out on March 19^th and appreciate the beautiful moon which will be 30% brighter and 10% larger than other nights.

Globe at Night - Great Indian Star Count

SPACE will conduct Globe at Night - Great Indian Star Count

with Globe at Night

from March 24th - April 4th

Globe at Night Northern Hemisphere is the 2nd 2-week campaign in March/Apr that helps to address the light pollution issue locally and globally. The 2nd campaign is from March 21 to April 4th, 2010 - using LEO constellation.
Under the campaign, everyone  will record the brightness of their night sky by matching its appearance toward the constellation Leo with star maps of progressively fainter stars found at http://www.globeatnight.org/observe_magnitude.html. Submit your measurements on-line at http://www.globeatnight.org/report.html with your date, time and location. A few weeks later, organizers release a map of light-pollution levels worldwide.
SPACE will be coordinating this campaign and Great Indian Star Count in India. Register through www.projectdarkskies.org and receive a participation certificate.
To learn the steps to participate in the Globe at Night program: http://www.globeatnight.org.

SPACE Globe at Night/Great Indian Star Count Registration and Details:
SPACE Project Dark Skies Website

CST SPACE Hands on Teachers Training Workshop

Teachers will launch rockets to learn about hands on science

SPACE and Council of Science and Technology, U.P. will jointly conduct a unique hands on science program for teachers in March/April, in 5 districts of Uttar Pradesh, namely Bijnor, Lucknow, Hardoi, Meerut and Allahabad. The 1st one is ongoing from 10th - 14th March at Bijnor.

This program attempts to address why fewer students are pursuing higher studies in the pure sciences and instead going on to engineering, medical, computer science, Biotech etc.  After this training, teachers will in turn be able to communicate the joy of science by utilizing these tools and methods and attract talent to this field at an early age, thus building the country’s science and technology base. Department of Science and Technology’s INSPIRE program addresses the same issues of how to attract students to the pure sciences, and this teachers training program is following INSPIRE’s precedence. A unique feature in this program is that it will be centered around Astronomy, as it a superset of many sciences and includes physics, chemistry, math, biology and geography within its boundaries.

The program will be initiated with the 1^st workshop at DAV Intercollege, Bijnor on 10^th – 14^th March. About 60 school teachers from Government schools will participate in a 5 day program encompassing presentations, hands on activities, model making, and demonstrations. A variety of activities such as making hydro rockets and sundials, creating solar systems with daily life objects such as fruits and marbles, and learning about the night sky through observations will immerse the teachers in hands on science. The activities will demonstrate how science can be better conveyed with teaching aids, and that aids are easily available as part of nature around us. Teachers will be introduced to internet tools of communication such as web conferencing and social networking with Twitter and Facebook as tools to disseminate and share information and pictures.

The program will culminate in a ‘KHAGOL MELA’ open to the public on 14^th March, 11:00 am- 3:00 pm, where teachers will design and conduct their own science activities!  Hydrorockets made by participants will be launched. Find out your weight on different planets, learn how to make pop rockets, cook a comet in the comet kitchen and find out how gyroscopes work! All schools, colleges, and public are welcome to attend and find out about such activities at this unique space fair – ‘KHAGOL MELA. Local dignitaries will grace this event. 

Pictures of this event can be found at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/organisationspace/HandsOnScienceTeachersTrainingProgrammeWithCST#5582451581008434130
 https://picasaweb.google.com/organisationspace/HandsOnScienceTeachersTrainingProgrammeWithCST#5582451581008434130

Details:

1^st Workshop: DAV Intercollege, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, 10^th – 14^th March 2011, 5 Days.

Khagol Mela: DAV Intercollege, Bijnor, U.P, on 14^th March, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

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Hands On Science - Teachers Training Workshop being conducted a Bijnore

Solar Walk Activity 

SPACE and Council of Science and Technology, U.P.  jointly conduct a unique hands on science program for teachers in March/April, in 5 districts of Uttar Pradesh, namely Bijnor, Lucknow, Hardoi, Meerut and Allahabad. This program attempts to address why fewer students are pursuing higher studies in the pure sciences and instead going on to engineering, medical, computer science, Biotech etc. It is believed that if teachers introduce hands on tools and activities into lessons at the middle school level, it will increase the spirit of enquiry and enjoyment in science, as classroom teaching in science is perceived as dull. After this training, teachers will in turn be able to communicate the joy of science by utilizing these tools and methods and attract talent to this field at an early age, thus building the country’s science and technology base. Department of

Science and Technology’s INSPIRE program addresses the same issues of how to attract students to the pure sciences, and this teachers training program is following INSPIRE’s precedence. A unique feature in this program is that it will be centered around Astronomy, as it a superset of many sciences and includes physics, chemistry, math, biology and geography within its boundaries.

The program started as 1st workshop at DAV Intercollege, Bijnor on 10th – 14th March. About 60 school teachers from Government schools are participating in a 5 day program encompassing presentations, hands on activities, model making, and demonstrations.

A variety of activities such as making hydro rockets and sundials, creating solar systems with daily life objects

such as fruits and marbles, and learning about the night sky through observations will immerse the teachers in hands on science. The activities will demonstrate how science can be better conveyed with teaching aids, and that aids are easily available as part of nature around us. Teachers will be introduced to internet tools of communication such as web conferencing and social networking  with Twitter and Facebook as tools to disseminate and share information and pictures.

The program will culminate in a ‘KHAGOL MELA’ open to the public on 14th March, 11:00 am- 3:00 pm, where teachers will design and conduct their own science activities! Hydrorockets made by participants will be launched. Find out your weight on different planets, learn how to make pop rockets, cook a comet in the comet kitchen and find out how gyroscopes work! All schools, colleges, and public are welcome to attend and find out about such activities at this unique space fair – ‘KHAGOL MELA. Local dignitaries will grace this event.

Details:

1st Workshop: DAV Intercollege, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, 10th – 14th March 2011, 5 Days.

Khagol Mela: DAV Intercollege, Bijnor, U.P, on 14th March, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm