khagol_123

Lectures on Introduction toAstronomy andAstrophysics, andCareers Astronomy webinars were organised by different schools and colleges, in which Sonal Thorve was invited as a guest lecturer. On May 3, 2020, a lecture was organised by Teach for India, Ahmedabad, for school students. The lecture was on how to learn astronomy by observations of some simple regular celestial objects, and their movements without any aid of a telescope. On May 17 and May 24, 2020, lectures for engineering and science students were organised respectively by Nutan Maharashtra Institute of Engineering and Technology, Talegaon, and the University of Delhi. Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Career Opportunities were discussed during these webinars. Online SummerAstronomyCamp School Students’ Astronomy Camp was conducted online during June 1 – 6, 2020. Along with the introduction to hands-on astronomy projects, an introduction to upcoming solar eclipse, and how to observe it safely were given. Thousands of people joined us for the camp, and also participated in live Q&Asession followed by the video lectures. The camp was coordinated by Sonal Thorve, and was succeeded in reaching about 1,000 students and astronomy lovers. Sessions onAnnular SolarEclipseAwareness To spread awareness about the beautiful celestial event, theAnnular Solar Eclipse on June 21, 2020, that was to be visible from all parts of India, sessions of webinars were conducted during June 5 – 17, 2020, by IUCAASciPOP, with support fromVigyan Prasar, NewDelhi. Tushar Purohit (IUCAA) was invited as the resource person. Contents of the webinars were: (i) How eclipse occurs, byArvind C. Ranade (Vigyan Prasar), (ii)Methods to safely observe solar eclipse using household material, by Tushar Purohit, and (iii)With a small telescope, by Mukesh Satankar (Bhopal). About 700 teachers from almost all parts of India, UAE, Qatar, Baharin, and Oman were reached during the 8 sessions of the webinars. No. 123 - July 2020 8