Popular Science Lecture on "Amazing Astronomy"
 
Saturday, 31st January 2009: 3.00 to 5.00 pm, Auditorium I in Gujarat Science City
 
 
The Gujarat Science City is announcing the popular science lecture on the topic "Amazing Astronomy" to be delivered by Prof. J. N. Desai, Former Profesor and Senior Scientist at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad on the Saturday, 31.01.2009 at 3.00 pm in Auditorium I.
 
The lecture is a part of the popular science lecture series titled as "SCIENCE MATTERS" that aims to bring awareness among the young students, parents, teachers and the media persons about the fascinating world of basic sciences and its promising future. The series deals with topics on frontier areas of science and technology for the spreading of new knowledge and awareness among the students as well as the public at large.
 
Astronomy is the oldest of sciences and the easiest for a student to start with, an interested student needs is good eyesight, clear skies and a power cut.. Everyone should realize the impact of astronomy and other fundamental sciences on our daily lives, and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society.
 
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have announced to celebrate the year 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) with the central theme, "The Universe, yours to discover". The 2009 sky is providing some exciting events, including the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, occurring on 22 July 2009 and lasting 6 minutes 39 seconds over a narrow corridor through countries including India, Bangladesh and China.
 
The universe is more amazing than what we can conceive of. A strong shower of Leonid meteors is also expected in mid-November 2009, with forecasters predicting upwards of an incredible 500 shooting stars per hour. In mid-October in the northern hemisphere, Jupiter will be placed at dusk, a perfect time to show public the giant planet and its moons. These are an impressive sight through even a small amateur telescope. The activities during IYA2009 theme aims to reinforce the links between science education and science careers, stimulating a long-term increase in student enrolment in the fields of science and technology and an appreciation for lifelong learning.
 
Prof. J. N. Desai, retired as a senior professor from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad in 1996. Before retirement he was also the chairman of the astronomy astrophysics division of that laboratory. He has published some 100 research papers and has guided about a dozen students for their Ph.D. degree.
 
Prof. Desai has been always very actively interested in popularizing science and astronomy in particular; and has been giving popular science talks at various forums. He has also helped in producing quite a large number of science related television and radio talks. He has authored one book in Gujarati on "Introduction to Astronomy Astrophysics" and three books in English (Venus and its Transits, The Sun and How the planetary Orbits Have been Understood)
 
The talk will explore amazing facts in astronomy and astronomical advances made in recent years.
 
We invite one and all to attend the programme at Auditorium I in the Science City.