What is the connection between Aryabhatta and astronomy? A pictorial chart throws light on the contributions of the renowned Indian mathematician to the field. Over 30 such charts displayed at a hall attached to the District Central Library serve as a beginner’s guide to astronomy, especially for school students. One can learn not just about renowned astrophysicists like Megnad Saha and Subhramanyan Chandrasekhar but also about planets, stars and galaxies (how they are formed), astro photography, and different types of solar and lunar eclipses, to name a few.
“We have covered topics including history, how astronomers found out that the universe was expanding, contributions from India, evolution of stars, and amateur astronomy,” says A Sakthivel, a retired professor of Physics and founder of Coimbatore Astronomy Club. Currently, he is an advisor for Kovai Astronomy Club that popularises astronomy among students at Government schools in the city. “One has to first study the night sky with the naked eye, then they can upgrade to binoculars and telescopes and look for deep sky objects like the butterfly cluster, Orion nebula and Andromeda galaxy, and craters of moon or the spectacular rings of Saturn,” he adds.
Amateur astronomer H Theivaprakasam who worked with Sakthivel on the project recalls his first experience of viewing planet Saturn through the telescope. “It’s unbelievable. You can count the nine rings. Jupiter, the brightest planet can easily be spotted using binoculars. Now, I use a four-inch reflector telescope to watch the night sky. It’s fascinating.”
