Ad Astra - Astronomy and Science Club

20/04/2023

We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming stargazing event! Join us for an unforgettable night under the stars as we gather at NFG on 20-April-2023 at 10PM to marvel at the beauty of the cosmos together.

This event is open to all ages and is completely free of charge. So, bring your friends, family, and anyone else who shares a passion for the stars. Let's make this a night to remember!

We hope to see you all there!

05/04/2023

Based on what we know from Newtonian Laws of Classical Physics and how gravity works (F=G*m1*m2/r^2, yada yada yada), it seems almost intuitive that the longer the distance a star is from the center of the galaxy, the slower its orbital velocity should be easy-peasy right? Well, not so much. Galaxies in our universe seem to be doing the impossible; the stars on the outer of galaxies seem to be traveling at the same speed(if not more) as the ones nearer to the center. At such high speeds, the stars should have shot out at incredible speeds long ago, and galaxies would have been torn apart. This is where dark matter comes into the picture, and scientists believe that it is this substance that is electromagnetically non-interactive(which basically means that we cannot see it or is “dark”), which glues entire galaxies together by generating the required extra gravity.
Amazing work by Ansh and Aditya.
To find out more check out this link!

https://bphcadastra.wordpress.com/2023/04/05/hiding-in-plain-sight-dark-matter-dark-energy/

29/03/2023

We were treated to a rare celestial spectacle with five planets—Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Mars—appearing in the night sky on March 28.
While the five planets were visible along with the waxing crescent moon in most parts of the world, most viewers might not have been able to see it unless they were in a location with an unobstructed view of the horizon.

According to Rick Feinberg, senior contributing editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, Venus and Mars should have been easy to spot. Venus is the brightest planet in the solar system and will be high in the sky, and Mars will shine brightly next to the waxing Moon. But on the other hand, Uranus, which appeared near Venus, would have appeared faint and would have only been visible with binoculars.

09/03/2023

Halley'sComet has been know since at least 240 BC and possibly since 1059 BC. Its most famous appearance was in 1066 AD when it was seen right before the Battle of Hastings. It was named after Edmund Halley, who calculated its orbit. He determined that the comets seen in 1531 and 1607 were the same object that followed a 76-year orbit. Unfortunately, Halley died in 1742, never living to see his prediction come true when the comet returned on Christmas Eve 1758. It’s the only comet ever observed that can be seen twice in one human lifetime.
2023 is the year that Halley’s comet reaches its aphelion—it’s farthest point from the Sun—before making its return journey to loop around our star. Now in the southern hemisphere constellation of Hydra it will reach aphelion at 35.1 au (beyond the distance of the orbit of Neptune and closer to Pluto) in December 2023.this ball of frozen water and gases and dust was last seen in the solar system in 1986. It’s due back in 2061 when it’s predicted to make a relatively close pass to Earth and be as bright as the brightest stars in the night sky. Cue easy naked eye observing that will put the elusive “green comet” to shame. So what are we waiting for? Let's get ready with our telescopes!

02/03/2023

Hot off the bright trails of the Green Comet, February 2023 has gifted stargazers another celestial spectacle, with Jupiter and Venus meeting in the night sky.
This coming together of astronomical objects, known as a conjunction, was made even more special for stargazers yesterday evening , with the Moon visible beside the two planets. However, the third month of the year kicks off with Earth’s twin and the biggest planet exchanging greetings with each other.
On March 1st and 2nd, 2023, Venus and Jupiter will align in a spectacular conjunction: an astronomical event where the two brightest planets in Earth’s night sky will be separated by merely half a degree (45 arcminutes)or about half the width of your pinkie finger’s nail when you hold it at arm’s length. Easily visible in the post-sunset skies if you have a clear western horizon, this marks the closest, most easily visible meeting of our two brightest planets since 2015, and there won’t be a better show until 2039.

28/02/2023

Time is one of the most basic and basic dimensions that any scientific student will encounter. In this article, we will go deeper into this fundamental feature of existence, which has perplexed physicists for millennia and continues to play a role in numerous Hollywood films such as Interstellar and The Terminator.
Did you realise, though, that the dimensions we use to measure time are insufficient for the universe? In this article, we will discuss cosmic time, which is time measured in relation to the expanding cosmos that began with the big bang.
It is important to note that the cosmic clock does not have to be the usual image that comes to mind when we think about time.
Many other physical parameters, like as temperature, entropy, disintegration of unstable particles, and so on, can be used to construct cosmic clocks. All of which have advantages and disadvantages.
Interstellar and The Terminator both discuss the subject of time travel. And how about that? Can we harness this physical dimension by using relatively unknown things like black holes and wormholes? To find out, read the complete article:
https://bphcadastra.wordpress.com/2023/02/28/cosmic-time/

22/02/2023

On the occasion of Science day on 28th February, Physics department, along with Ad Astra, brings to you: Chai Coffee under the Stars!

Join us at 9pm in the New Football Ground for a night full of events, discussions with your favorite professors and a fun stargazing session!

23/11/2022

Take a dive into understanding how we find the planets you hear about in the news. Ad Astra brings to 'Finding, Classifying and Analysing Exoplanets', where you'll learn how to use machine learning to unlock the secrets of the universe and search for potential future homes for humanity. Join us on '25-27 Nov' from 3 pm to 5pm at 'F207.'

Register now! Only a handful of seats left!!
Link -https://unstop.com/p/finding-classifying-and-analysing-exoplanets-birla-institute-of-technology-and-sciences-bits-pilani-hyderabad-campus-506006
Contact -
Manasa SK (9494000841)
Ansh Kanotra (8384858363)
Manasa S K Mehar Chawla Ansh Kanotra

23/11/2022

The heavens are our window to the past and they only have the answers to riddles we need to shoot into the future.
Sign up now to join us for a fun stargazing session at the New Football Ground on the night of 26th November from 11p.m. to 2 a.m.

Link:https://unstop.com/p/star-gazing-atmos-22-birla-institute-of-technology-and-sciences-bits-pilani-hyderabad-campus-495669

Incase of any queries, feel free to contact us at:
Manasa SK (9494000841)
Ansh Kanotra (8384858363)
Manasa S K Mehar Chawla Ansh Kanotra

11/11/2022

Greetings BPHC!
Does your imagination run wild? Or logic comes to you from thin air? Do you like staring at the night sky and pondering upon the beyond? Then this event is for you!
Come along in a team of 2-3 and put to test not only your knowledge of astronomy but also your creativity and team spirit. Or if you like solo missions, you can hop into the ride individually. Come and enjoy a thrilling dive into deep space (space for thoughts).
What if?...
For any queries, email us:
[email protected]
Manasa S K Mehar Chawla Ansh Kanotra

15/08/2022

15/07/2022

“The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all time.”
John F. Kennedy
Have you been fascinated by the night sky and the sheer infinitude of the Universe? Those beautiful images of galaxies, nebulae, planets and asteroids are amazing, aren't they?
Curiosity and exploration are vital to the human spirit ....We at Ad Astra are accepting the challenge of going deeper into space and inviting you all to join us on this exciting journey!!