Astronomy workshops held at Kalaigaon

Aryabhatta Science Centre,Kalaigaon under ASTEC (Assam Science Technology and Environment Council)organized two workshops on basic astronomy at Kalaigaon and Bananguri in Udalguri district on March 29.The two astronomy workshop were sponsored by PRAG (Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers' Association,Guwahati Planetarium under department of Science & Technology,Assam government.The first workshop on basic astronomy was held at Bananguri HS at 11 am.The school has been situated in a remote village in Udalguri district. Hundreds of enthusiasts students and teachers attended the workshop.Manas Pratim Sarma,Asst.Secy of PRAG conducted the technical session which was inaugurated by Khagen Nath,Headmaster of Bananguri HS.The topics covered were-basic astronomy,history and evolution of space, blind believe and superstition etc.The other block lavel workshop on basic astronomy was held at Aryabhatta Science Centre at Lokapriya Bordoloi Public School, Kalaigaon at 2 pm.Students and teachers of six high schools namely- Kalaigaon Girls HS,Lokapriya Bordoloi Public School,Pride Academy,Ranthali HS,Bholabari HS, Chengapara HS and Kalaigaon Girls MVS participated in it. Here too the workshop was conducted by Manas Pratim Sarma of PRAG.He had interactive session with students while conducting the multimedia demonstration on- astronomical telescope,history and evolution of Solar System and planets,comets,asteroids,black hole,supernova, galaxies, expansion of the universe,dark energy and dark matter etc.The participants were given basic knowledge of telescope and how to handle telescope.Distinguished people namely-Jayanta Das,District Coordinator, ASC,Udalguri;senior journalist of Darrang and Udalguri Bhargab Kumar Das, Dhritishree Hazarika,Block Coordinator ASC,Kalaigaon;Binu Deka Saikia,Headmaster, Kalaigaon Girls HS; young scientist Upamanyoo Das,Basanta Deka,Head Master,LB Public School Kalaigaon etc attended the workshop.In the evening a Sky Observation programme was arranged where the participants were trained to see planets,stars,constellation of stars etc through sophisticated telescopes.