Introduction :

It is a need of the day to popularize Astronomy and Space science in place like Marathwada region. No such type of center exists in this region at present. The weather condition at Nanded is feasible for setting up an observatory for research as well as observation. This center plays vital role in promoting amateur astronomers for their observations and development of scientific temper among common people. Nanded is comparatively a remote place in the interiors of Maharashtra. It is located  in  Marathwada region which is under developing region of  Maharashtra. The existing natural parameters and lack of political desire is solely responsible for the backwardness of Marathwada in sundry spheres of life. But we being responsible part of the society, should try hard to overcome the shortfalls and keep this region in pace with the developed part of the world. The present proposal is being forwarded with this thought. The center has been established with this thought and named as Mahatma Gandhi Mission's Center for Astronomy and Space Technology (CAST).

GLOBLE AWARD WINNING CENTER

During International Astronomy Year 2009 MGM’s CAST Center participated in seven International events and won second prize in ‘Most complete Astronomy club, group, or society member participation’ category of “100 Hours of Astronomy” event.  2308 Centers of 105 countries around the globe had participated in this event.

OBJECTIVES

The pivotal objectives of CAST are

1. To provide a Center for excellence for teaching, research and development in Astronomy and Space Technology.
2. To organize School & University level orientation courses / workshops  in Astronomy & Space Technology
3. To undertake advanced level research in current topics as well as programs for science popularization.
4. To encourage & undertake collaborative research programs  with scientists in India and abroad

FACILITIES AT CENTER

1. 14” MEADE LX 200 GPS – Fully Automated Astronomical Telescope with Imaging System
2. Badder and H-Alpha Solar Telescope for Sun observation
3. NanoMetrix – Digital Seismograph for monitoring swarm earthquake activities.
4. Davis Pro Advanced Automated Weather Station for monitoring real time 15 weather parameters of Nanded city

WORK DONE BY THE CENTER

1. Keeping Daily Meteorological data -(Max – Min Temp, Max – Min Humidity and Rainfall)  of Nanded city from last 15 years.
2. Short and Long term Weather forecasting and analysis of metrological events at Marathwada level  and made available for newspaper  for public outreach.
3. Research on Sun – Earth Space Relation & Solar Sunspots Impact on Earth’s Climate.(Forecasting in year 2008 about Little Ice is coming on Earth)
4. Designing and Development of Lightning Instruments (Lightning Radar and Electric Field Mill) in CAST Center.
5. Students worked for their final year projects on various new ideas.

MAIN ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED AT CAST CENTER DURING ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-2015

1. Vigyan Prasar ( Govt Of India) sponsored “ National Orientation Workshop on Transit of Venus” was  Organised by CAST Center during 11 to 13 May 2012 ( 55 Participants from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra were registered )
2. TOV Expedition: Observed Transit of Venus on 06th June 2012 from Pachmarhi ( MP)
3. An informative  Exhibition on MARS ORBITER MISSION INSERSION IN MARS ORBIT was organized at Center during 21 to 24 September 2014
4. Participated in International Geminid Meteor Shower  on 15 Dec. 2015  from Patnoor  as per International Meteor Organisation, Germany.

Night view of MGM’s  Late prof. Narayan Chandra Rana Memorial Observatory

Dr. Sachin Naravdiya, Scientist, Vigyan Prasar- Observing Solar flairs in H-Alpha Solar Telescope

Seeing Planets and Moon features through 14” LX200 MEADE telescope

Night sky observation session

Inauguration of Pictorial & informative exhibition on “Mission Comet ISON” by Director Dr. Mrs. Geeta S. Lathkar Madam

Inauguration of Advanced Weather Station at CAST center by auspicious hands of Shri. Dheeraj Kumar, District Collector, Nanded. This is a first kind facility, installed in Marathwada region.

Activities conducted during Year 2015-16

1. Geminid Meteor Shower Observation carried out from Barul & Patnur on 13th -14th  December 2015
2. Five Planets ( Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible in morning sky) a Public Observation session was arranged at observatory on 02nd -03rd  February 2016
3. Seventeenth Foundation day of CAST Center was celebrated on 14th February 2016
4. Partial Solar Eclipse observed from Observatory on 09th March 2016
5. Adlebaran Occutation was observed on 14th March 2016
6. “Eratosthenes experiment” to measure Earths Circumference carried at CAST Center on 21st  March 2016
7. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse was observed from CAST Center on 23 March 2016
8. Transit of Mercury was observed from CAST Center  on 09th May 2016

Geminid Meteor Shower Observation carried out from Barul & Patnur on 13th -14th  December 2015

 

1. Five Planets ( Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible in morning sky) a Public Observation session was arranged at observatory on 02^nd -03^rd  February 2016

Seventeenth Foundation day of CAST Center was celebrated on 14^th February 2016

Partial Solar Eclipse observed from Observatory on 09^th March 2016

Adlebaran Occutation was observed on 14^th March 2016

“Eratosthenes experiment” to measure Earths Circumference carried at CAST Center on 21^stMarch 2016

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse was observed from CAST Center on 23 March 2016

Transit of Mercury was observed from CAST Center on 09^th May 2016