To create awareness on astronomy and to build a cultural space, Victoria Memorial is organising a two-day Astro Night in association with Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, a unit under the National Council of Science Museums, Science City, Kolkata, Sky Watchers’ Association and IISER, Kolkata on Saturday and Sunday. However, due to the current cloudy conditions, the organisers said that the venue might be changed.
Programme details
According to the programme schedule, the two-day event would begin at 6pm on Saturday and it would include stargazing, lectures on astronomy and science shows. “There will be around seven telescopes and the participants will be able to see the planets and celestial bodies,” said Samarendra Kumar, secretary and curator, Victoria Memorial Hall.
At 6 pm, the lawn will be closed to the general public and any person willing to attend the event, will be allowed to enter the (Victoria Memorial) premises through the North Gate. The event would take place on the North Lawn of Victoria Memorial.
Astronomer Dr Debiprasad Duari and Dr Dibyendu Nandi, professor of IISER, would deliver lectures. “It would be more like a storytelling session and not something stuffed with technical jargon. The stories of the universe and celestial bodies would be discussed during the lectures,” said Duari. On the other hand, the Sky Watchers’ Association would bring the telescopes to the North Lawn of Victoria Memorial from where the sky is most visible.
Weather may play spoilsport
However, as per the present weather condition, it might be difficult to pull off the event. According to IMD, Kolkata would stay partly cloudy throughout Saturday. Besides, rain and/or thundershower accompanied by gusty winds are very likely. “I am worried. Even if the Saturday night sky gets cleared, the lawn would be wet and soggy following the rain. It would be difficult to set up telescopes and watch the night sky from there,” Duari added.
When asked, Kumar said that he too was worried and would take appropriate steps. “If the situation gets worse, we may change the venue to some other location at the Victoria Memorial premises. We are yet to decide on that,” Kumar added.