Watch out for comet ISON

Watch out for comet ISON

BANGALORE:The comet ISON is to make an appearance soon in the inner solar system. If it can be seen through telescope now, come September it can be watched through naked eyes. After November 28, this sun-grazing comet will reach perihelion and become brighter.

Various science movements, amateur astronomy groups and others have come together to plan a nation-wide campaign to track this comet.BharathGyanVigyanSamithi and Centre for contemporary Studies in Indian Institute of Science will organize a series of workshops for the public to track the comet. The workshops held from September will continue for three months. There will be day time and night time astronomy and sky watching activities during the workshops.

"Much like was done in the past for various eclipses, the transit of Venus and so on. We plan to reach to as many school children as possible and create interest in astronomy and demystify certain believes like watching comets is harmful," said Jayakumar

A workshop for the southern states will be held for 3 days from August 22 to 24 to train resource persons who would be able further train the teachers and science activists at regional levels. About 40 participants from 6 southern states will participate in this. This is being jointly organized by Centre for Contemporary Studies, IISc. And Bharath Gyan Vigyan Samithi with the support of Vigyan Prasar and NSCTC, Dept. of Science & Technology.

The comet was found in 2012 in the outer solar space.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Watch-out-for-comet-ISON/articleshow/21934769.cms