Reaching the heavens with ease

The Astronomical Observatory at Excel Public School in Hootagalli has been active since two years in observing the heavens effortlessly. It is an encomiastic endeavour by the institution in establishing an observatory to impart excellent astronomy education.

Most of the people take at least a passing interest in astronomy; after all, the skies are all around us, and not even the most myopic observer can fail to appreciate the Sun, the Moon and the Stars! But astronomy as a serious hobby is quite another matter. Sky is always the limit. ‘Sky Watching’ is one of the most fascinating, enjoying and thrilling experience. If we witness the sky on a dark, clear night we can see billions of stars.

The sky is the laboratory, observation is the experiment, and eyes are the equipment. A significant amount of basic astronomical science can be accomplished without any observing device other than the human eye. The Astronomical Observatory at Excel Public School (EPS), Mysuru, provides us an opportunity to understand the grandeur of astronomy or essence of sky-watching.

EPS, a part of Excelsoft Technologies Private Limited, a multinational educational E-software solution development organisation, was started in 2009 in the campus of this software company. The School is the brain child of Dhananjaya, Chairman, Excelsoft Technologies and Sudhanva, Chief Executive Officer, Excelsoft Technologies, Hootagalli, Mysuru.

The school has focused on being a state-of-the-art facility with varied field in imparting education to the children from the onset. An Astronomy division was started for the benefit of the children of EPS under the K12 division, which is an extended education based programme that goes beyond the regular text book curriculum.

The idea was to provide quality education to the students and to augment the diverse interests of the individual.

The Astronomy division began to function during the opportune moment of ‘International Year of Astronomy’ in 2009, a worldwide programme where in amateur and professional astronomers from around the world took to their telescopes to watch the celestial wonders of the sky to commemorate Galileo’s 400th year anniversary of observation of Jupiter and its satellites.

For this purpose, as a long term investment at a cost of about Rs. 10 lakh, EPS installed the state-of-the-art 14 inch CGE PRO XLT Starbright equatorial mount Celestron GOTO Schmidt Cassegrain telescope with focal length of 3910 mm/ F11 for the school observatory for regular sky-watching programmes for the children and for occasional public viewing.

Open for general public on a regular basis, it had a huge impact on the minds of the people. The initial Galilean night sky-watching programme proved a definitive platform and impetus for us to reach huge number of enthusiasts in the astronomy field and added value to our approach of providing the best in all fields of education. During that time, it was greatly assisted by Dr. S.N. Prasad, a retired professor of Physics, Regional Institute of Education.

The 14-inch observatory class computer operated telescope is a fully multicoated Schmidt – Cassegrain telescope with multi-coated Plossl eyepieces accessory, which is a very high resolution powered instrument just perfect to see very faint celestial objects up to 14 magnitudes. It has the light gathering power of 2560 times the naked eye limit. The 8-inch Altazimuth CPC 800 GPS integrated telescope being smaller and more portable with focal length of 2032 mm/F10 is quite powerful and has the light gathering power of 850 times the naked eye limit. Both the telescopes can be mounted on a super sturdy steel tripods and dampers and preloaded with 40000 objects in its memory, like NGC, Caldwell, IC, Messier and Abel catalogues. With plenty of interchangeable lenses to go with, the sky is not the limit and with magnification extending more than 400 times, objects such as galaxies, as far as millions of light years, is clearly visible.

The best way to enjoy the beauty of the star-studded night sky is to use our eyes only, without being encumbered with optical aids like binoculars and telescopes. In fact, the wide angle of vision that observation with unaided eye allows is not available if we look through a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Astronomical observations, like any other walk of life today, have been profoundly revolutionised by the “silicon chip.” The CELESTRON 14” is a computer controlled reflecting telescope, where the computer is controlled by an Intel 8052, 12 MHz microprocessor. The Compustar Computer displays the co-ordinates, type, magnitude, size and visual quality of each astronomical object being observed. It incorporates Celestron’s acclaimed Schmidt – Cassegrain optical system. The system has three elements; the Schmidt corrector, a concave primary mirror and a convex secondary mirror. The corrector plate lens looks like a flat window at the front of the telescope. The curved concave primary mirror is situated at the back, and fastened to the centre of the Schmidt corrector plate is the secondary convex mirror which faces the primary mirror. The rugged heavy duty castings used for mechanical components provide vibration free performance.

All this would amount to nothing if there would not have been a dedicated full-time staff to handle the department and conduct all the programmes related to Astronomy. Amateur astronomer Kiran Prasad is the person responsible for this extended education training and regular sessions of in-class lesson and sky-watch is being conducted at the school premises under him. Due to phenomenal growth of the school, the school has now been shifted from its old Excelsoft premises to its own sprawling new campus with its roof top observatory, which is a ideal setting since it is a little out of limits of urban light pollution.

The institution also provides an extensive programme for visual and photographic studies. Visual studies include lunar, planetary and deep sky observations, and intend to lay particular emphasis on near planets and their features like the cloud belts of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. The photographic studies with their Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) couples to the COMPUSTAR, have found from the past experience with the CELESTRON 8” telescope that the quality of photographs are both superior and aesthetic. On occasion of special astronomical events, many important and useful photographs have been captured by amateur astronomers and student enthusiasts. The telescope is serving not only the cause of school students, also for the student community of other institutions in the city and rural areas.

Over 2000 students and amateur astronomers have availed the facility of the observatory. As the eternal unconquered regions of space beacon man with a challenge, it is the cherished desire of Excel Public School that the students who pass through its portals, gaze in wonder at the breathtaking creations of nature and develop a quest for knowledge and exploration of the unknown.

For those whom the cosmos serves as a source of inspiration, CELESTRON 14” will be the first step of satisfaction to reveal the opulence of astronomy. For further details, contact Mob: 97415-16348 or visit Excel Public School, annex BEML Engine Division, Mysuru.

—Prof. S.A. Mohan Krishna, Amateur Astronomer

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / June 01st, 2016