Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Leonids counted high in Dark sky at Nagarkot
Nepal Astronomical Society NASO organized a grand Leonids observation party at Nagarkot Tower, Bhaktapur on 17th November,2009. It was the greatest meteor shower (also called meteor outbrust ) of the year. A filming team from Canada captured the whole observation night for their documentry "Acquainted with Night". The dark sky of Nagarkot hill supported all the astro fellows presented there for the observation of brightest objects, constellations, naked eye planets (jupiter, Mars & Venus) and Leonids in the morning. More than 50 participants ( including students, teachers, amateurs, journalists, astro-photographers and tourists ) were observing Leonid meteor shower which was supposed to be pick after 3 am onwards on 18th November. One of the participant said he counted 40 number of meteors in an half hour time though more than 100 were supposed theoretically. Because of diffuse fog waving over the sky in the morning, observers were interrupted little bit.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
WORKSHOP ON ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGE PROCESSING IN KATHMANDU
TWAN Director along with his group reached kathmandu on 14th November 2009. Workshop on Astrophotography and Image Processing is being organized on 15th November in St. Xavier College Kathmandu by Nepal Astronomical Society NASO in collaboration with Department of Physics, St. Xavier College.
Full report comming soon...
Full report comming soon...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Celebrating Galilean Nights and Campaign Against Light Pollution In Far West
Organizers (Step Nepal & NASO) preparing for the programme
2009.10.23
Dhangadi, Kailali
Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) team along with Campaign against light pollution team reached Kailali on 23rd October, the far west district of Nepal. A programme was jointly organized by Step Nepal (an NGO based in Dhangadi, Kailali, working in the field of S & T) and Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) for creating awareness in the society on the occasion of Galilean Night celebrating IYA2009.
On 23rd October, a talk programme was arranged in District Development Committee hall in Dhangadi. There were four talks on different topics along with the documentary on Hubble & Universe by GD Pudasaini and Utsav Kandel. Co-ordinator of Campaign Against Light Pollution (CALP-Nepal) and Executive Founder Member of NASO, Mr. Sudeep Neupane presented a talk on “Light Pollution”. Talk on “Global Warming” was given by Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel (Founder Member-NASO) and Mr. Suresh Bhattarai (Founder Member-NASO) presented a talk on “What is Astronomy?” At the end of the talk session, Mr. Sudeep Neupane introduced “Steps into Amateur Astronomy” to guide astronomy enthusiastic which was followed by Sky Observation in the ground near by the programme hall. NASO team made an arrangement to observe Jupiter and Moon through Telescopes and Binoculars. There were almost 250 participants (including teachers, students, journalists and public) attending the talk and observational session. The public were seemed to be eager on all the topics and Light Pollution was completely new for all. A BBC Nepali Reporter Mr. Umid Bagchand, was interviewing the response of the public. Step Nepal team was managing and volunteering both the sessions.
NASO team heading towards Programme venue (Gd Pudasaini, Sudeep Neupane, Suresh Bhattarai and Riwaj Pokhrel from the left)
Programme hall (DDC hall)
Mr. Sudeep Neupane giving talk on LIGHT POLLUTION
Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel presenting on GLOBAL WARMING
Mr. Suresh Bhattarai Giving talk on WHAT IS ASTRONOMY?
Mr. Sudeep Neupane Presenting slides on STEPS INTO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY
Students and Public observing Jupiter and its Galilean Moons
Observers watching Night sky from Binoculars2009.10.24
Axis Vidhyashram
Dhangadi, Kailali
NASO team (Mr. Sudeep Neupane, Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel and Mr. GD Pudasaini) went to Axis Vidhyashram (Secondary School) on 24th October. A short talk session followed by Sky Observation was arranged there. Light Pollution, Global Warming and Astronomy were focused on the presentations. Students and Teachers of Axis Vidhyashram attended the programme. Step Nepal Team was along with NASO arranging programmes at Dhangadi. Little bit Sky Glow interrupted the Observers to watch low altitude sky objects.
Students observing JUPITER and MOON through Telescope and Binoculars2009.10.26
Stone Bridge Academy
Dhangadi, Kailali
NASO Team (Mr. Sudeep Neupane, Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel and Mr. GD Pudasaini) reached Stone Bridge Academy on 26th October. School Principal arranged a talk programme for school students followed by Sky Observation. Light Pollution and Astronomy was focused in the talk session. Observation of Jupiter and Moon were arranged through Telescopes and Binoculars. Observers were keen to know their Zodiac Constellation along with other easily known constellations. Observers were practically introduced the Sky Glow which annoyed them to observe night sky.
Star Party on Stone Bridge sec. school, DhangadhiTuesday, October 13, 2009
LIGHT POLLUTION: MAJOR CHALLENGE TO THE WORLD
Light pollution, also known as photo pollution or luminous pollution, is excessive obtrusive light created by humans. It broadly refers to inefficient, unappealing and arguably unnecessary use of wasteful artificial light. Light pollution is adverse and expensive illumination being squandered away senselessly from exterior and interior buildings, advertising hoarding boards, lavish streetlights and commercial properties like offices, factories and sporting venues. It is severe in highly industrialized and densely populated areas of North America, Europe and Japan. Big cities in the Middle East and North Africa exhibit similar trends regarding light pollution. The areas of southern England, North America, Netherlands, Belgium, West Germany and Northern France have abnormally acute sky brightness. From the East to West American coast that extends up to the Canadian border extremely significant global light pollution can be evidently perceived. Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepaljung, Narayanghat and Biratnagar are light polluted Nepalese cities. Prodigiously expended light can earnestly damage the environment.
Specific categories of light pollution include light trespass, over-illumination, glare, clutter and sky glow. Light trespass occurs when unwanted light enters one's property. Common light trespass problem arises when strong light beams shine into one’s window from outside that could trigger sleep deprivation and glaringly disturb one’s panorama of neighborhood. Inordinate use of light especially to lighten buildings induces over-illumination. Glare is agitated by copiously exuberant contrast between bright and dark areas in the field of view. Superfluously extravagant grouping of lights is known as clutter, which may generate confusion, distract persons from obstacles and potentially incite accidents. Clutter is particularly noticeable on roads of Kathmandu and other main cities in Nepal where the street lights are badly designed or where advertising is intensely lit. In many over-populated and developed cities we can witness queer sky glow. It is the combination of all light reflected from illuminated objects in addition to badly directed light that has escaped up into the sky and has eventually scattered by the atmosphere weirdly back towards the ground.
Different types of light pollution have been noticed in major cities world over. People living in such metropolis have been suffering unknowingly from various forms of light pollution. Lighting is responsible for one-fourth of all energy consumption worldwide. Over-illumination including non-beneficial upward direction of night-time lighting is tantamount to energy wastage that could be checked by improving lighting quality while reducing unwarranted energy use and curbing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering carelessly unthrifty energy costs. The overall cost of light pollution in USA was calculated to circa one billion US Dollars in 1998.
Perceiving fainter celestial objects have become stressfully difficult as contrast between stars and galaxies has been dwindling predominating due to sky glow. The visibility of diffuse nebulae and galaxies is also affected by light pollution. One simple method for estimating the darkness of any location is to locate our sprawling galaxy the Milky Way. Since light trespass can distressfully impede observations and annoy avid sky-gazers, new and modern telescopes are being built and erected increasingly on remote areas. Astronomers are now searching for dark sky destinations like our country for wondering and watching the mystifying marvels of the universe along with participating in the International Year of Astronomy (IAY2009) to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei in 1609 and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova that described the planetary motion for the first time. As declared by the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations, detailed scheme for IAY2009 has been prepared by International Astronomical Union (IAU) and endorsed by UNESCO. Some 135 countries including Nepal are taking part in an unprecedented global scientific network with various astronomical events and activities taking place throughout 2009.
Medical research on effects of radically immoderate light-exposure on human body suggests that a variety of health hazards may be enkindled by light pollution. Lighting design textbooks set sound human health as dominating criterion for proper interior lighting. Over irradiation or improper spectral composition of light may evoke increased headache incidence and anxiety. Manifestations of diminishing sexual performance have been linked to lengthy daily exposure to moderate lighting on persons. Common standard of fluorescent lighting in offices are sufficient to elevate blood pressure by about eight points. Relatively high levels of light in office environments have lead to increased stress and worker errors. Studies have indicated nexus between exposure to light at night and risk of breast cancer, due to suppression of the normal nocturnal production of melatonin hormone. Shift work that involves circadian disruption was listed as vital probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Life exists with natural patterns of light and dark. So any disruption of those rhythms directly influences many aspects of animal behavior. Light pollution could confuse animal navigation and alter competitive interactions, change predator-prey relations and modify animal physiology.
Melatonin is naturally occurring hormone (chemical compound) found in humans, animals, and other living organisms, including algae. In humans, melatonin is produced by pea-sized pineal gland located in the center of the brain. The melatonin signal forms part of the system that regulates the circadian cycle by causing drowsiness and lowering the body temperature. Circadian rhythm is an approximate daily periodicity with roughly 24-hour cycle in biochemical, physiological or behavioral processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. Production of melatonin that is dubbed the arcane hormone of the darkness is inhibited by light but permitted peculiarly by darkness. Secretion of melatonin as well as its amount in blood, peaks in the middle of the night and gradually falls during the night’s second half with normal variations in timing according to an individual's chronotype. Low light radiation represses melatonin production to some extent, but over-illumination can create significant suppression in melatonin production. Since it is principally blue light that subdues melatonin, wearing glasses that block blue light in the hours before bedtime may avoid melatonin loss.
It is generally agreed that many people require light to feel safe at night, but campaigners for curtailing light pollution often claim that inappropriately installed lighting can lead to decline in safety if measured objectively. International Dark-Sky Association asserts that scientific studies cannot convincingly show clear relationship between lighting and crime. As protection from the dangers of light pollution demands utmost importance for everybody, methods for diminishing light pollution have to be invariably adopted. Utilizing light sources of minimum intensity and accurately to accomplish the light's purpose could prevent light pollution. Light could be switched off by using timer, occupancy sensor or even manually when not needed. Lighting fixtures could be improved and appropriate light types for specific purposes could be introduced. Government should evaluate and redesign existing and future lighting plans. Light pollution is presently a major challenge to the world and we should seriously make efforts to face and tackle it before it becomes too late for saving our environment with same emphasis and vigor while confronting water and air pollution.
*************
Specific categories of light pollution include light trespass, over-illumination, glare, clutter and sky glow. Light trespass occurs when unwanted light enters one's property. Common light trespass problem arises when strong light beams shine into one’s window from outside that could trigger sleep deprivation and glaringly disturb one’s panorama of neighborhood. Inordinate use of light especially to lighten buildings induces over-illumination. Glare is agitated by copiously exuberant contrast between bright and dark areas in the field of view. Superfluously extravagant grouping of lights is known as clutter, which may generate confusion, distract persons from obstacles and potentially incite accidents. Clutter is particularly noticeable on roads of Kathmandu and other main cities in Nepal where the street lights are badly designed or where advertising is intensely lit. In many over-populated and developed cities we can witness queer sky glow. It is the combination of all light reflected from illuminated objects in addition to badly directed light that has escaped up into the sky and has eventually scattered by the atmosphere weirdly back towards the ground.
Different types of light pollution have been noticed in major cities world over. People living in such metropolis have been suffering unknowingly from various forms of light pollution. Lighting is responsible for one-fourth of all energy consumption worldwide. Over-illumination including non-beneficial upward direction of night-time lighting is tantamount to energy wastage that could be checked by improving lighting quality while reducing unwarranted energy use and curbing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering carelessly unthrifty energy costs. The overall cost of light pollution in USA was calculated to circa one billion US Dollars in 1998.
Perceiving fainter celestial objects have become stressfully difficult as contrast between stars and galaxies has been dwindling predominating due to sky glow. The visibility of diffuse nebulae and galaxies is also affected by light pollution. One simple method for estimating the darkness of any location is to locate our sprawling galaxy the Milky Way. Since light trespass can distressfully impede observations and annoy avid sky-gazers, new and modern telescopes are being built and erected increasingly on remote areas. Astronomers are now searching for dark sky destinations like our country for wondering and watching the mystifying marvels of the universe along with participating in the International Year of Astronomy (IAY2009) to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei in 1609 and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova that described the planetary motion for the first time. As declared by the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations, detailed scheme for IAY2009 has been prepared by International Astronomical Union (IAU) and endorsed by UNESCO. Some 135 countries including Nepal are taking part in an unprecedented global scientific network with various astronomical events and activities taking place throughout 2009.
Medical research on effects of radically immoderate light-exposure on human body suggests that a variety of health hazards may be enkindled by light pollution. Lighting design textbooks set sound human health as dominating criterion for proper interior lighting. Over irradiation or improper spectral composition of light may evoke increased headache incidence and anxiety. Manifestations of diminishing sexual performance have been linked to lengthy daily exposure to moderate lighting on persons. Common standard of fluorescent lighting in offices are sufficient to elevate blood pressure by about eight points. Relatively high levels of light in office environments have lead to increased stress and worker errors. Studies have indicated nexus between exposure to light at night and risk of breast cancer, due to suppression of the normal nocturnal production of melatonin hormone. Shift work that involves circadian disruption was listed as vital probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Life exists with natural patterns of light and dark. So any disruption of those rhythms directly influences many aspects of animal behavior. Light pollution could confuse animal navigation and alter competitive interactions, change predator-prey relations and modify animal physiology.
Melatonin is naturally occurring hormone (chemical compound) found in humans, animals, and other living organisms, including algae. In humans, melatonin is produced by pea-sized pineal gland located in the center of the brain. The melatonin signal forms part of the system that regulates the circadian cycle by causing drowsiness and lowering the body temperature. Circadian rhythm is an approximate daily periodicity with roughly 24-hour cycle in biochemical, physiological or behavioral processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. Production of melatonin that is dubbed the arcane hormone of the darkness is inhibited by light but permitted peculiarly by darkness. Secretion of melatonin as well as its amount in blood, peaks in the middle of the night and gradually falls during the night’s second half with normal variations in timing according to an individual's chronotype. Low light radiation represses melatonin production to some extent, but over-illumination can create significant suppression in melatonin production. Since it is principally blue light that subdues melatonin, wearing glasses that block blue light in the hours before bedtime may avoid melatonin loss.
It is generally agreed that many people require light to feel safe at night, but campaigners for curtailing light pollution often claim that inappropriately installed lighting can lead to decline in safety if measured objectively. International Dark-Sky Association asserts that scientific studies cannot convincingly show clear relationship between lighting and crime. As protection from the dangers of light pollution demands utmost importance for everybody, methods for diminishing light pollution have to be invariably adopted. Utilizing light sources of minimum intensity and accurately to accomplish the light's purpose could prevent light pollution. Light could be switched off by using timer, occupancy sensor or even manually when not needed. Lighting fixtures could be improved and appropriate light types for specific purposes could be introduced. Government should evaluate and redesign existing and future lighting plans. Light pollution is presently a major challenge to the world and we should seriously make efforts to face and tackle it before it becomes too late for saving our environment with same emphasis and vigor while confronting water and air pollution.
*************
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Nepal Astronomical Society NASO started working against light pollution
NASO is an organization of amateur astronomers and working in the field of astronomy for creating awareness in Nepalese society. It started a campaign against light pollution officially on 17th September 2009. The main motto of this campaign is to preserve dark sky and to make our country dark sky destination.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIGHT POLLUTION
Working team:
Coordinator : Mr. Sudeep Neupane
Team members: Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel
Mr. Suresh Bhattarai
Mr. Yagya Raj Joshi
Mr. Indra Subedi
Mr. GD Pudasaini
Mr. Rijendra Thapa
Mr. Arjun Panthee
Mr. Utsav Kandel
Mr. Sabin Karki
CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIGHT POLLUTION
Working team:
Coordinator : Mr. Sudeep Neupane
Team members: Mr. Riwaj Pokhrel
Mr. Suresh Bhattarai
Mr. Yagya Raj Joshi
Mr. Indra Subedi
Mr. GD Pudasaini
Mr. Rijendra Thapa
Mr. Arjun Panthee
Mr. Utsav Kandel
Mr. Sabin Karki
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