Pune's rising star finds a place in the Sky

Vineetha Mokkil / TNN / Sep 10, 2006, 01:01 IST

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Sky And Telescope, one of the world's most popular astronomy magazines, applauded a photograph taken by a Pune student.

Pune's rising star finds a place in the Sky

PUNE: The large community of amateur astronomers in Pune received a fillip on Saturday when Sky And Telescope, one of the world's most popular astronomy magazines, applauded a photograph taken by a Pune student.
Kshitija Kelkar, a first year BSc (Physics) student of Fergusson college, took the photograph while observing the lunar eclipse on September 7.
Kelkar is a keen amateur astronomer and a member of Akashmitra, a popular amateur astronomers' group in Pune. "The photograph shows the moon with a black cap on its top half," says Kelkar.
"I took it from the terrace of my house with my digital camera when the eclipse was at its peak," she adds. Kelkar then sent the picture to Sky And Telescope, an American magazine which she reads regularly. Sky And Telescope published the photograph on the magazine's website, declaring it ‘Photo of the week'.

"This is a rare honour," says Arvind Paranjpye, scientific and technical officer, public outreach programme, IUCAA. "The community of amateur astronomers in Pune is celebrating Kelkar's success."
The subject matter of photographs that amateur astronomers submit to Sky And Telescope have to pertain to astronomy. They are judged on the basis of clarity and crispness.
Pune has several amateur astronomers' groups that actively promote public interest in astronomy. IUCCA also regularly organises camps and skywatch programmes for students and other amateur astronomers.
"I took part in a camp organised by IUCAA when I was a Std. IX student," reminisces Kelkar. "My interest in astronomy picked up after that."
Kelkar is thrilled that her passion for skywatching has caught the attention of a venerated astronomy magazine. "I am planning to take up astronomy as a career now, though my interest in the subject began as a hobby," she says.

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