Smiling faces while observing the Sun for the first time.
Solar Astronomy in Pakistan
A lot of activities are happening on the horizon of Solar Astronomy in Pakistan for last few years and this is good news that solar astronomy is thriving in Pakistan at the same rate and on the same scale as the night time astronomy.
Sajjad Ahmad (KAS) with his Lunt Solar Systems 35mm H-Alpha telescope.
Karachi Astronomers Society is now also running this solar astronomy project website (KAS-SAP) particularly to boost the SUNTASTIC world of solar astronomy and to showcase its activities of solar observation and imaging.
Solar activities are being done by KAS for the promotion of Solar Astronomy in Pakistan.
Karachi Astronomers Society and Lahore Astronomical Society are seriously engaged in educational and observational solar astronomy in Pakistan. Basic knowledge of the Sun, stars, solar system and astronomical phenomena is being imparted to the students and general masses.
Umair Asim at Zeds Astronomical Observatory, Lahore with his Lunt Solar Systems 152mm H-Alpha telescope.
Solar Astronomy Outreach in Pakistan
Specially if we talk about Karachi, the Karachi Astronomers Society started with a few solar observation sessions at local schools. But now KAS is seriously active in solar outreach since 2014. KAS has arranged various public and private solar outreach events in Karachi that have also been recognized by the international solar astronomy communities like Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project (CBSAP) and Solar Sidewalk Astronomers.
Sun is for everyone. Now you can also request a Solar Observation Session at your place.
The complete story of solar observation events till now is expressed in the form of pictures.
Solar Imaging in Pakistan
KAS members own various equipment to conduct solar observation sessions and solar imaging. Imaging the beauty of Sun, one and only, our own star to admire the creation and power which runs life on Earth.
Here is the complete solar imaging archive since 2014. These images have been taken with White Light filtered telescopes and Hydrogen Alpha dedicated solar telescope.
What is Solar Astronomy?
Discovering the daytime astronomy and the wealth of details visible on our nearest star with certified solar equipment is a great hobby as well as profession. Solar Astronomy does not mean just observing our star “Sun” but to study “how a star works”.
Solar astronomy is the scientific study of the celestial star we refer to as the sun and the phenomena that surround it. The main concerns of solar astronomy are the physics, chemistry, meteorology, motion and evolution of the sun as well as its place in the universe.
Because the Sun is uniquely situated for close-range observing (other stars cannot be resolved with anything like the spatial or temporal resolution that the Sun can), there is a split between the related discipline of observational astrophysics (of distant stars) and observational solar physics.
The Sun also provides a “physical laboratory” for the study of plasma physics.
Solar physics is the branch of astrophysics that specializes in the study of the Sun. It deals with detailed measurements that are possible only for our closest star. Solar physics is also important as it is believed that changes in the solar atmosphere and solar activity can have a major impact on Earth’s climate.
PHOTO CREDITS: Abubaker Siddiq, Sajjad Ahmad, Ramiz Qureshi and Umair Asim.
