Webinar on Dark Matter and Particle Accelerator

PAS organized  the webinar program with Dr. Rakshay khatiwada  about the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX). She is postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Washington working on Axion Dark Mater Experiment (ADMX). She present the  short overview of  experiment along with recent finding. In 2017 ADMX achieved sensitivity to the very compelling DFSZ axion, a decade-long goal of axion experimenters and put new limits covering axion in the mass range of 2.66 to 2.81 μeV.

  
Later on we also talk with Mr. Rakesh Chandra Prajapati about  particle accelerator, and beam dynamics. First part of his presentation  focus on beam instrumentation  and  the second part discuss the engineering  and technology aspect of the particle accelerator, on beam instrumentation and diagnostics.

30 participants from different high schools and universities attended the webinar in Pokhara Public Library, Mahendrapool, Pokhara. 

Star, Galaxy, and The Universe a Public Talk Program

To promote and establish astronomy culture in our society we organized public talk program on June 14 during the Second Kathmandu Astrophysics School-2108 (KAS18), with organizing committee of KAS18. Three speaker Dr.Michele Trenti (University of Melbourne), Dr. Mustafa Amin (Rice University) and Dr. Manisha Shrestha (University of Denver) present  a brief journey through astronomical wonders, starting from a close look at what are stars and what are their key properties, continuing to discuss galaxies (made of tens to thousands billions of stars) and finally the Universe as a whole (with the visible portion having more than hundred billion galaxies). They introduce these concepts at a level accessible for the general public without requiring  prerequisite knowledge, and there will be time for questions and answers. A written translation from English to Nepali will be provided, and one of the speakers is fluent in Nepali.     

Photo; Manisha Shrestha talk about the life of Star 

Photo: Participation on Public Talk 

Photo: Dr. Michele Trenti addressing about the observational astronomy  

Global Astronomy Month-2018 "Look upwards to unravel the mystery"

In every year we celebrate the global astronomy month to bring interested people together to promote and encourage the  participation in different astronomy related program. This year Central Department of Physics (CDP) organized AstroFest Nepal 2018 at  Kirtipur on April 22, 2018 on the occasion of Global Astronomy Month (GAM).The event was jointly supported by B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board, Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) and Beyond Apogee.  

During the event Dr Binil Aryal (Head of Central Department of Physics) present the present research trend on Astrophysics and suggest the students to build up some sorts of skill to grab the opportunity in international level. The program is followed by the talk session by Dr.Udaya Raj Khanal on the topic of cosmology and astronomy gave new insight to the world of astronomy. later on Mr. Suresh Bhattarai from (NASO), Mr.Sabin Gautam  (PAS), and Mr. Sudip V.Adhikari (Beyond Apogee) present their plan, activities to promote Astronomy and Space science Astivities in Nepal. To inspire the students towards astronomy we also have Poster presentation,Poem competition and Astro-photo exhibition event at a mean time.  

Group photo After the Program 

After 5:00 PM we have organized the observation session  in which participant  got chance to observe the Moon and Venus. 

     

Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) conducted the Yuris Night celebration at the Department of Physics Prithvi Narayan Campus Pokhara Dr. Krishna Prasad Bhandari Associate Professor at Institute of Engineering, Western Region Campus is presenting on “GNSS and its application” and Mr. Suman Gautam Chairman of PAS present on the topic of “ IAU Astronomy Programs and Outreach in Nepal. Mr. Sabin Gautam program Coordinator PAS is presenting on the “Importance of celebration of Yuris Night Program” . Mr Parashuram Poudel Head of Department of Physics and Dr. kapil Adhikari Co-ordinator from Phyiscs Research Initiatives (PRI) were participated in the program and deliver the speech on the programs adapted and conducted by Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS).

One Day Water Rocket Workshop Program

On February 18, PAS, in association with an aerospace company Beyond Apogee, conducted a water-rocket workshop and teachers training program. The workshop, hosted on KEF high school was targeted for secondary and high school grades' students. The workshop was conducted in two phases. In the first part of the program, founder of Beyond Apogee, Mr. Sudip V. Adhikari, made participants familiar about the Science behind rockets, specifically water-rockets.

Group Photo After the Program 

Group with Water Rocket  

In the latter portion of the program, members of Beyond Apogee along with the volunteers of PAS, taught and helped students in making their own water-rockets from simple water bottles. Students were divided into teams along with specific names for their rockets. Alongside, Mr. Sabin Gautam, a Program Co-ordinator of PAS, taught teachers about the ways of using astronomical software, and making and using astro-kits in teaching.

After completion of the construction of rockets, each team was provided with an opportunity to launch their rockets by a pressure-launcher. Each rocket was assisted with a parachute to help in its landing. At the end of the program students were provided with the certificates of participation.

Participation of students and teachers from 8 schools and successful launching of rockets made the program a resounding success.

Nepal had a successful participation in the 8^th Communicating Astronomy with the Public Conference (CAP) 2018 from (24- 28)th March in  Fukuoka.

Mr. Suman Gautam, Chairman at Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) and adjunct faculty at Department of Physics, Prithivi Narayan Campus is representing Nepal at the event by presenting the Poster entitled “Astronomy Educational Outreach Program in Nepal”.

The conference became the largest CAP Conference ever, with around 450 participants from 53 countries.

CAP - 2018

CAP -2018 

Chairma PAS Mr Suman Gautam