To celebrate National Science Day, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics will host an “IIA Open Day” on Sunday, February 25, from 9 am to 6 pm at its Koramangala campus. This event welcomes the public at no cost and does not necessitate prior registration. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the institute’s research in astrophysics and its diverse observatories through interactive displays, demonstrations and informational posters. Additionally, there will be a variety of engaging activities tailored for both students and visitors.
As part of the ‘Ask an Astronomer’ session, experts from the institute will be available all day to address inquiries from visitors, while posters covering key areas of astronomy will also be on display. Throughout the day, there will be experiments showcasing the physics of optics utilizing lasers, observations of sunspots and a demonstration involving a tethered helium balloon. Additionally, attendees can explore models from ISRO and the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium displayed at the event.
Several external astronomy organizations will also be hosting stalls, offering a variety of astronomy-themed merchandise for sale. Additionally, there will be two public talks during the event. One on the topic of ‘First Stars of the Universe’ in Kannada at 2 pm, followed by a discussion on ‘Black Hole Shadows’ at 4 pm. A book reading of ‘Solar System in Verse’, for students aged 8-18, will also be taking place at 11AM.
