Kathmandu, January 11

Nepali students from five schools of Kathmandu Valley will be participating in STARRS Asteroid Search Campaign, which is beginning from February 1 to March 7.

Suresh Bhattarai, president of Nepal Astronomical Society today said that Battisputali-based Ankur Bidhyashram, Nepaltar-based Eureka High School, Tokha-based Ganesh English Secondary School, Dhumbarahi-based The Insight Vision Higher Secondary School and Jorpati-based The Celebration Co-Ed are the schools participating in the campaign.

Earlier, these schools were scheduled to participate in the International Astronomical Search Campaign, which was being organised in association with the US-based Astronomical Research Institute.

Bhattarai said that the campaign was scheduled from January 7 to February 11, but due to technical problems it was cancelled.

“ARI failed to provide us the pictures of space due to technical problems, therefore it was cancelled,” he added, “Thus, the same students from these five schools will be participating in the STARRS Asteroid Search Campaign.”

He further said that the photos of space clicked through STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System), appropriate software and guide books will be sent to students to study about space and make discoveries.

Students’ participation in International Astronomical Search Campaign is aimed to engage students in practical research activities in association with international organisations, he said.

He said that it was an internet based programme so the students could participate in real discoveries from Kathmandu itself.

Four students, two males and two females, accompanied by a teacher from each school will participate in the campaign.