Exploring the Universe Through Science

On January 25, 2025, the Department of Physics at Gauhati University, along with the GU Observatory, organized an event called “Aligning Wanderers” at the University Observatory. The event, which started at 5:30 PM, aimed to offer students and faculty a chance to observe the night sky through advanced telescopes while addressing common myths about space.

Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita, Assistant Professor from the Department of Physics, along with his team, led the event. He began by welcoming the audience and requesting their cooperation for a successful program. Participants then observed four planets—Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter—through a Galilean telescope.

Despite dust, clouds, and smoke covering the sky over the past few days, students patiently waited to get a clear view of the planets. Seeing them with my own eyes was an incredible moment, something I had only read about before.

The Gauhati University Observatory, established in 1990, has been conducting planetary observation programs for several years. These programs aim to educate people through practical experiences and enhance their understanding of the planetary system.

During the event, Dr. Kalita delivered a talk on various topics, including:

The scale of the solar system

Copernicus’ contributions

The arrangement of planets

The celestial sphere

Planetary movements across the ecliptic

Observing Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, Mars’ red surface, and the phases of Venus was a mesmerizing experience. Even students from non-scientific backgrounds actively engaged in discussions, proving that science is for everyone.

The program featured two major components:

Sky Viewing – Observing planets through telescopes

Live Sky Simulation – Understanding planetary movement

For me, this event was a remarkable experience. The connection of planets with mythology and traditional beliefs made me even more curious to witness them firsthand. I am truly grateful to the organizers and especially to Dr. Bharati Bharali from the Department of Communication and Journalism for allowing us to be part of this inspiring event. 

-Bitopan Rajbongshi, MA 2nd Semester, DCJGU

My Sweet Experience of Stargazing on a Rare Evening

On the evening of January 25, 2025, I had the chance to witness a rare cosmic event—the Planetary Alignment—organized by the Department of Physics at Gauhati University in collaboration with the GU Observatory. The event turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

The program began around 5:30 PM with a warm welcome from Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita and a team of enthusiastic PhD scholars. They explained the science behind planetary alignments in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner. I was fascinated right from the beginning, as it is not every day that one gets to learn about and witness such a rare astronomical event in such detail.

Then came the moment I was waiting for—looking through the Galilean telescope for the first time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the planets lined up in the night sky. Watching them up close, perfectly aligned, felt surreal and reminded me that we are all part of something much bigger.

The event concluded in about an hour, but the experience will stay with me forever. It wasn’t just about the planets or the telescope—it was about witnessing the universe in a completely new way.

I am incredibly grateful to the Department of Physics for organizing this event. It was the perfect blend of learning, exploration, and sheer awe. As a student of Communication and Journalism, this experience reinforced the importance of curiosity and staying open to new fields of knowledge.

Sometimes, all it takes is a telescope and a rare cosmic event to change the way we see the universe—and life.

 -Mousam Sharma, MA 2nd Semester, Department of Communication and Journalism, GU

Witnessing the Planetary Parade

The night sky on January 25, 2025, offered a spectacular view as the planets aligned in an astronomical event known as the "Planetary Parade."

The Department of Physics at Gauhati University, in collaboration with the GU Observatory, organized an event called “Aligning Wanderers” at the University Observatory. The event, which began at 5:30 PM, aimed to provide a hands-on experience of observing celestial bodies through advanced telescopes while dispelling common myths about space. Hundreds of students and faculty members participated in the program, gaining both practical insights and theoretical knowledge of astronomical phenomena.

Led by Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita, Assistant Professor from the Department of Physics, and his team of research scholars, the event began with an introduction by Dr. Kalita, who encouraged cooperation to make the program successful. He pointed out Venus and Jupiter, which were visible to the naked eye. Later, through an operational Galilean telescope, the audience had the opportunity to observe Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter.

Standing in long queues, I was thrilled to witness these planets firsthand. However, I initially expected them to appear larger, but they looked like stars through the telescope. Despite disturbances caused by dust, clouds, and smoke over the past few days, attendees patiently waited for a clear view of the sky.

Dr. Kalita also delivered a lecture on various topics, including the scale of the solar system, Copernicus’ contributions, planetary alignment, the celestial sphere, and planetary movements across the ecliptic. He emphasized that the internet is often filled with misleading images of planetary alignments, which are not scientifically accurate.

Observing Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, Mars’ red surface, and the phases of Venus was an awe-inspiring experience. Even students from non-scientific backgrounds were deeply engaged, proving that science is universal and accessible to all.

At the end of the event, we had another opportunity to observe the planets through a standard telescope. It was a truly enriching experience, challenging many myths associated with celestial bodies. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers and especially to Dr. Bharati Bharali from the Department of Communication and Journalism for providing us with this wonderful learning opportunity.

-Joyshree Saikia, MA 2nd Semester, DCJGU

Exploring the Universe Through Science

The Department of Physics at Gauhati University, along with the GU Observatory, organized an event called "Aligning Wanderers" on January 25, 2025, at the university observatory. The event started at 5:30 PM and aimed to give students and faculty a chance to observe the night sky through advanced telescopes and clear up common myths about space. Hundreds of students and faculty members attended the event, where they not only got to see different celestial bodies but also learned the basics of astronomy.

Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita, an assistant professor from the Department of Physics, led the event along with his team. He welcomed the audience and asked everyone to cooperate to make the program a success. Using a powerful Galilean telescope, the audience got a chance to view four planets—Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. Despite the sky being cloudy and dusty for the past few days, students patiently waited in long lines, eager to catch a clear view of the planets. Seeing them with my own eyes was an incredible experience, something I had only read about before.

The Gauhati University Observatory, established in 1990, has been organizing such observation programs for several years. These events aim to educate people through practical experiences and explain how the planetary system works.

During the event, Dr. Kalita gave a talk about various topics such as the scale of the solar system, the contributions of Copernicus, the arrangement of planets, the celestial sphere, planetary movements, and more.

Seeing Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings, Mars' red surface, and the phases of Venus fascinated everyone. Even students from non-science backgrounds showed great interest, proving that science is for everyone. The event included two main activities: observing the planets through telescopes and a live sky simulation session.

Personally, it was an amazing experience to see the planets that I had only heard myths about before. The connection of these planets with mythology and traditional beliefs made me even more curious to witness them myself. I am truly grateful to the organizers and especially to Dr. Bharati Bharali from the Department of Communication and Journalism for giving us the opportunity to attend such an enlightening event.

-Sudip Das, MA 2nd Semester, DCJGU

Witnessing the Universe Through Science

 The Department of Physics at Gauhati University, along with the GU Observatory, organized an event called "Aligning Wanderers" on January 25, 2025, at the university observatory. The event began at 5:30 PM and aimed to provide a clear view of the night sky using advanced telescopes while addressing common myths about space. Hundreds of students and faculty members attended the program, where they not only got to see different celestial bodies but also learned the basics of astronomy.

The event was led by Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita, an assistant professor from the Department of Physics, and his team. Dr. Kalita welcomed the audience and encouraged active participation to make the event a success. Using a powerful Galilean telescope, the audience had the opportunity to observe four planets—Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. After standing in long queues, it was truly an unforgettable experience for me to see the planets I had only read about in books. Despite the sky being cloudy and filled with dust and smoke over the past few days, students waited patiently and eagerly for a clear view of the planets.

The Gauhati University Observatory was established in 1990 and has been organizing such observation programs for several years. The main goal of these programs is to educate people through practical experiences and help them understand how the planetary system works.

Dr. Kalita also delivered a talk on various topics, including the scale of the solar system, the contributions of Copernicus, the arrangement of planets, the celestial sphere, planetary movements, and more.

Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, Mars’ red surface, and the phases of Venus have always fascinated those interested in astronomy and astrophysics. It was inspiring to see students from non-science backgrounds also taking a keen interest, proving that science is for everyone and is present in every aspect of life. The event featured two main activities: observing planets through telescopes and a live sky simulation session.

For me, it was a wonderful experience to see planets that have long been surrounded by myths and beliefs. Their deep connection to mythology and traditional stories made me even more curious to witness them with my own eyes. I am truly grateful to the organizers and especially to Dr. Bharati Bharali from the Department of Communication and Journalism for giving us the opportunity to be part of such an enlightening event.

-Shayan Dey, 2nd Semester, Department of Communication and Journalism, GU

Aligning Wanderers: Exploring the Cosmos at Gauhati University

On January 25, 2025, the Department of Physics at Gauhati University, in collaboration with the GU Observatory, hosted an enthralling event called "Aligning Wanderers." The program, which commenced at 5:30 PM, aimed to debunk myths and observe celestial bodies using cutting-edge telescopes. Under the guidance of Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita, Assistant Professor of Physics, and his team, the event offered a unique opportunity for hundreds of students and faculty members to witness the wonders of the universe.

The audience was treated to a mesmerizing view of four planets—Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter—through an operational Galilean telescope. Despite minor disturbances caused by dust, clouds, and smoke, the attendees eagerly waited for a clear view of the sky, showcasing their patience and enthusiasm.

Established in 1990, the Gauhati University Observatory has been conducting planetary observation programs to educate people about the workings of the solar system. Dr. Kalita delivered an insightful lecture, discussing topics such as the scale of the solar system, Copernicus' contributions, planetary orientation, and celestial mechanics.

The event featured two key components: sky viewing and a live sky simulation. This experience was truly captivating, allowing me to witness planets that are often shrouded in myth. The event's organizers and Dr. Bharati Bharali from the Department of Communication and Journalism deserve special thanks for providing this opportunity.

Prabal Jyoti Sarma
4th Semester,
DCJGU