Hello. Dr. Smruti Hawal’s Supanth Manch and Astromaitri, Sankeshwar had recently organized an overnight sky watching programme for children and elders at Sankeshwar. I and my friend Gireesh were fortunate to participate in it and conduct the sky watching part. Through this, I am sharing my experience. I had known Dr. Smruti Tai as very active and enthusiast person, some one who loves books and learning. She had planned this programme last year also, but due to cloudy conditions, we had to postpone it. This time also, we had worries due to cloudy conditions. Clouds did interrupt and took some joy away. But they were kind also and we could observe some of the main objects!
Dr. Smruti Tai had chosen a perfect place, their farm house near Sankeshwar. This farmhouse with plenty of flowers, lush green fields, huge old well, peaceful nature and peacocks offered an excellent place with clear view from all directions. Had it been clear, it would have been a most memorable night. But it was not to be. Initially, we had started to think that it was going to be washed out! It did rain also. But the sky was kind and suddenly out of nowhere, we could see the Sun, the star near us. Suddenly, the sky was clear! Through Gireesh’ 8 inch Dobsonian telescope, we could observe the sunspots and orange disk of the Sun. Of course, we used a proper filter. Children could see the tiny black dot- the sunspot, area of faint flares on the surface of the Sun. Though the sunspots look like dots, they are bigger than our earth! Dr. Smruti Tai thanked the Sun and the nature in gratitude!
