NATIONAL

SCIENCE DAY

CELEBRATION

February 28, 2013 ANNOUNCEMENT

Organised by

Radio Astronomy Centre National Centre for Radio Astrophysics Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

Satellite Programme Schedule

1. Kothagiri - 11th February (Monday), DIET

and Government Hr.Sec. School.

2. Coonoor - 12th February (Tuesday),

St. Mary’s Hr. Sec. School.

3. Ooty -13th February (Wednesday),

St.Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School.

4. Gudalur -14th February (Thursday), Fathima

Girls Hr. Sec. School.

The National Science Day celebration at

Radio Astronomy Centre is open to all on

28th February 2013 between 9.00 a.m. and

5.00 p.m..

For further information contact

Convenor, NSD-2013 Radio Astronomy Centre

Post Box No. 8 Udhagamandalam (Ooty) – 643 001

Phone: 0423-2550334, 2550335

Fax: 0423-2550135 e-mail: rac_nsd2013@wm.ncra.tifr.res.in

web site : http://rac.ncra.tifr.res.in

How to reach Radio Astronomy Centre:

One can take a bus from Ooty bus station going to-

wards M.Palada/ Nanjanad/ Kallakorai/ Ithalar/ Emer-

ald and get down at the Muthorai village. A pleasant

uphill walk of ~1km from Muthorai will lead to RAC.

In an alternate route, one can catch a bus to Melka-

vatty village and get down at the main gate of RAC.

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics

The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics

(NCRA) is part of the Tata Institute of

Fundamental Research (TIFR), which is funded

by the Government of India through the

Department of Atomic Energy. The NCRA

operates two major observational facilities, the

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and

the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT).

The GMRT is located ~90 km north of Pune. It

consists of 30 antennas of each 45-m diameter

parabolic dishes. The GMRT is a modern, highly

versatile radio telescope, equipped with state-of-

art electronics.

The ORT is situated at the Radio Astronomy

Centre (RAC), near Muthorai village, in the

Nilgiri Hills. It is a cylindrical paraboloid of

reflecting surface, 530m long and 30m wide,

placed on a hill slope of ~11˚ to make the

rotation axis of the telescope parallel to the

rotation axis of the Earth. Over the 40 years, the

ORT has produced many important astronomical

results on radio galaxies, quasars, supernovae,

pulsars, interstellar and interplanetary media, etc.

Above facilities provide stimulating environment

for the front-line research in radio astronomy and

astrophysics and they are being used by national

as well as international researchers.

Satellite Programme

Satellite events of National Science Day

Programme are arranged at schools, in four

blocks of Nilgiris District, viz. Kothagiri,

Coonoor, Ooty and Gudalur (between 11 and 14

February 2013, see the schedule in back page).

The general theme of satellite events is “A better

understanding of our universe”. These events

include

1. Science Essay Writing (English / Tamil )

2. Quiz

3. Painting

4. Science Models

Events will be conducted for 3 levels of students

5th to 7th std classes

8th to 10th std classes

11th and 12th std classes

Important Notes

For each event, two students from a school can

participate. However the essay writing and the

painting can be participated only by individual

student. In order to encourage large participation,

a student can participate in an event only.

Participating students should produce I.D. proof

and bona fide certificate from their respective

schools. Students will be encouraged and issued

with certificates.

National Science Day (NSD) 2013

The National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated

every year on 28 February, all over the country,

to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect

by Sir C.V. Raman, for which he was awarded

the Nobel Prize in Physics.

The Radio Astronomy Centre organizes the

National Science Day (NSD) of this year at its

campus located near Muthorai village on 28

February 2013 (Thursday).

The programme at the Radio Astronomy Centre

on 28 February 2013 includes:

The main attraction will be the watching of

live observations of celestial objects made

using the Ooty Radio Telescope,

Live demonstrations and exhibits on

astronomy and astrophysical studies,

Observing the Sun and tracking sunspots,

Exhibits and demonstrations from other

scientific and research organizations of the

Nilgiris District,

Selected science models from schools and

scientific paintings by students will also be

displayed. (see satellite events in next page)

Background : The radio image of 3C449 created

from GMRT observation data