Daijiworld media network – (TP)
Udupi, Dec 15: The students of Poornaprajna Amateur Astronomers’ Club (PAAC) organized a Geminids meteor shower viewing programme on December 14 in the college premises.
Several hundreds of meteors were visible as they flashed into streaks of light across the sky. These streaks sometimes bear distinct colours and appear very long and bright. Amateur astronomers around the world wait for this day to spend the entire night looking at the night sky and keep a count of the number of meteors that become visible.
As the meteors were prominently visible after 9 pm, a sky-watch programme was organized from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm where the students of PAAC could view the planets Jupiter, Saturn and the Orion Nebula, through the club’s telescopes. About 60 people with 13 staff members of the college, and 20 students along with 3 alumni took part in viewing the planets and the meteors. The members of the public also joined the sky-watch. After 9 30 pm, the 20 students of PAAC along with 4 faculty members stayed back and observed the meteor shower. The group observed over 70 meteors between 9:30 pm and 2:30 am.
Dr A P Bhat, administrative office, Udupi Shri Adamaru Matha Education Council, Udupi branch and the retired principal of Poornaprajna College explained how the meteor showers originated and the astronomy behind it.
Dinesh Hebbar, alumni showed the constellations to the gathering.
The students Bhoomika Udupa, Sharadhi and Bhargava Bhat operated the telescopes.
Dr Ramu L, principal, of the college and others were present.
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
