Night sky astro tourism

Why in news:

• Rajasthan has become the first state in India to announce the introduction of night sky astro tourism in all 33 districts of the state.

Key Points:

• Four tourist spots in Jaipur will become the venues of this new tourism product which will help people, including children, gaze at the stars during clear skies.
• Jantar-Mantar, Jaipur, Amber Fort, University of Maharaja, Jaipur and JKK will become the venues to watch astronomical events this year.
• Bikaner House situated in New Delhi will also become the hub of Night Sky Astro Tourism where a telescope will be installed for tourists for sky-watching.
• According to Rajasthan's Department of Science and Technology Secretary the novel idea was conceptualised during the lockdown period.
• The fear of Covid has packed the people inside their houses. There was a strict lockdown, students were busy studying online and there was silence on the roads. However, there were hectic astronomical events happening in the sky that were reported in different media.
• There was a lot of news about the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn and it was watched by a lot of curiosity by experts around the globe. In fact, the the most distinctive event in the universe aroused excitement among lot of people in the region in particular. It was from here that  the idea to launch astro tourism in the state came about.
• The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology then planned to organise the stargazing session at the secretariat and the officials there were also excited to watch the stars. Then it was decided to launch it for the public and it kicked-off on January 21, 2021. There was a huge queue, especially of children, who had come from distant places to watch it.
• Soon, recommendations started coming in from officials from distant districts for sky gazing and hence the department thought that they should expand it.
• The idea was accepted and the Chief minister of Rajasthan announced the launch of Night Sky Astro Tourism in all 33 districts on March 3.
• The most distinguished feature of this novel product is that it will be managed by calendars of the sky. The sky will act as guide to fix the dates. The officials will study the pattern when there is clear sky and then schedule will be built accordingly in 33 districts.
• For now, the project is free of cost. Interested people will not need to pay anything.  The department is working on the concept that science should be free for all. Watching these stars and space, some girl student might get inspired and takes space as her subject and becomes like Kalpana Chawla. The department wants at least one student from Rajasthan to go to space, to set an example like Rakesh Sharma.
• Also, when children are learning coding, they can also learn astrophotography, they can become artists and poets watching the stars. The idea is to give scientific exposure to students.
• Additionally, the department will organise workshops like astrophotography and others and those interested shall be charged a minimal fee.
• Soon after the department started the project, the Nainital district administration, along with the support of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in the lake town, announced to develop Takula as an astro-village where visitors can indulge in star-gazing.
• Afterwards, Ladakh also announced astro tourism. So, Rajasthan's Department of Science and Technology is the first to lead the show for promoting astro-science.