🚀 Recent Activities
🛰️ August 2025: National Space Day 2025 Event
On the occasion of the 2nd National Space Day, Prof. Varun Sheel (Head, Planetary Science Division, PRL) delivered a special talk.
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Venue: Buzz-II (Room #9104)
Swipe through moments from Prof. Varun Sheel's talk.
🌄 April 2025: Student Visit to ARIES, Nainital
A group of undergraduate students undertook a memorable academic expedition to the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital.
This educational visit provided a rare opportunity for students to interact directly with professional astronomers, scientists, and engineers, gaining firsthand insights into India’s leading research programs in observational astronomy. The visit featured informative sessions on exo-planet detection, Solar dynamics, observational strategies, and ongoing national missions.
Highlights of the trip:
- Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) – India’s largest optical telescope (Largest in Asia)
- Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) – rapid follow-up observations
- International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) – first liquid mirror telescope dedicated to astronomy
The exposure to operational observatories and interactions with the scientific community at ARIES made this visit a milestone in their academic journey.
A glance into the visit:
🌟 March 2025: Weekly Lecture Series on Astrophysics
The Weekly Lecture Series on Astrophysics is an ongoing initiative introducing students to astronomy and astrophysics. Open to all, the series explores stellar evolution, black holes, and modern observational techniques, sparking curiosity and interdisciplinary engagement.
- Dr. Balendra P. Singh
- Dr. Nitesh Kumar
- Dr. Prince Sharma
- Dr. Arka Chatterjee
- Dr. Suvankar R. Chowdhury
- Dr. Raju RoyChowdhury
🔭 February 2025: Sky-Gazing Event with In-House 12-inch Telescope
A sky-gazing session was organized using the department’s in-house 12-inch reflector telescope, giving students a rare opportunity to explore the skies from campus.
The event featured a guided solar observation session, where students safely viewed the Sun through a solar filter, observing sunspots and experiencing the dynamic nature of our nearest star. Faculty members guided participants in operating the telescope and understanding solar features.
For many, this was their first direct glimpse at the Sun through a scientific instrument, turning abstract concepts into vivid, observable reality.
