A Journey Through the Cosmos: My South India Astronomy Expedition

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known" - Carl Sagan

I was born and raised in a far-flung beautiful tribal village called Birsa in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, where the clarity of the night sky was unparalleled. My love for astronomy dates back to my childhood, when, at the age of six, my elder cousin showed me a rare celestial event in the night sky. Since then, I’ve been captivated by the mysterious vastness above.  At that time, astronomy for me was simply about looking up and enjoying the celestial beauty. Stargazing there was a magical experience, with a Bortle scale rating that made the stars shine brighter and the constellations clearer than anywhere else. Even without a telescope or formal knowledge at the time, the night sky became my canvas, inspiring countless dreams and emotions. The night sky was my escape and my muse—a boundless expanse that painted my dreams and emotions with its infinite canvas. As an introverted child, I felt an even deeper connection to the cosmos, finding comfort and inspiration in its vastness.

Recently, I had the opportunity to deepen this childhood passion on an extraordinary journey to South India as part of an amateur astronomers’ group from Jyotirvidya parisanstha Pune. The trip was a dream come true, offering insights into the vast mysteries of the universe and profound lessons about science, community, and life itself.

Our adventure began in Thiruvananthapuram, where we visited the Thumba ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Space Museum. It was awe-inspiring to learn about India’s remarkable journey in space exploration. We marveled at miniature models of various launch vehicles and gained insights into the cutting-edge technologies that have propelled India onto the global space stage.

From there, we traveled to Coimbatore and onward to Ooty, where we explored the GRAPES-3 research facility. GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3) is designed to study cosmic rays using an array of air shower detectors and a large-area muon detector. The facility employs scintillators, specialized materials, used to detect charged particles in air showers created by high-energy cosmic rays interacting with Earth’s atmosphere.

Ooty is also home to the unique Ooty Radio Telescope, a 530-meter-long and 30-meter-tall cylindrical parabolic reflector. Radio astronomy, which studies celestial bodies by analyzing the radio waves they emit, offers fascinating insights into the universe, from the Sun and planets to distant galaxies. Witnessing the intricacies of radio telescopy was a humbling experience, and I was amazed by the dedication of Indian scientists who unravel the universe’s secrets and share their knowledge with enthusiasts like us.

Next, we visited the Solar Observatory at Kodaikanal, the oldest observatory in India, and then made our way to the Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO) in Kavalur, Tamilnadu which is also operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Kavalur is nestled in a serene, lush green setting far from urban chaos. This observatory houses some of India’s most powerful telescopes, which have captured rare and extraordinary data, advancing our understanding of the cosmos.

The highlight of this visit was the iconic 102 cm Carl Zeiss Telescope, which has been operational since 1972. This telescope holds the distinction of contributing to groundbreaking stellar discoveries, such as detecting the atmosphere around Jupiter’s moon Ganymede in 1972 and discovering the rings around Uranus in 1977—achievements that bring great pride to our Nation. Meeting the passionate scientists at Kavalur and listening to their insights was an honor, leaving me deeply inspired and proud of our scientific community.

What made this journey even more special was the diversity of our group. It included individuals from various backgrounds—IT professionals, bloggers, doctors, students, businesspeople, and homemakers—ranging from a 15-year-old to seniors in their golden years. This diversity was a testament to the universal appeal of astronomy, transcending age and profession. Beyond learning about the universe, I gained a valuable life lesson: there is no age limit to curiosity and knowledge. The more you learn, the more you realize how vast and unknown the world truly is.

Astronomy has also been a humbling teacher. It constantly reminds me of how small our existence is in the vast universe. When you consider the immensity of space, there is no room for ego, wars, or hatred. We are mere specks in this grand cosmos, and the realization of our insignificance should inspire us to live harmoniously and cherish the fleeting beauty of life. :)

This trip with Jyotirvidya Parisanstha has been a transformative experience, deepening my understanding and appreciation of astronomy. I am especially grateful to Dr. Gaurav Banerjee and his colleagues at the Vainu Bappu Observatory for their time and explanations of telescope mechanics and space science, and to Mr. Amit Kadlaskar and Jyotirvidya Parisanstha for organizing and managing this incredible expedition. My heartfelt thanks also go out to all the wonderful buddies who accompanied me on this journey. Their company and shared enthusiasm for astronomy made the trip even more special. 

As I reflect on this journey, I am reminded of the words of Carl Sagan: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” The sky has been my childhood friend, and yet I am still in nursery when it comes to astronomy. I look forward to continuing this journey of discovery, learning more about the infinite wonders of the cosmos.

Gayatri Tembhare

22/12/2024