About Heliodyssey 2008
SPACE, a national body working for the popularisation of astronomy and space science is organising the second student solar expedition Heliodyssey 2008 to Russia during the Total Solar Eclipse on 1st August 2008. Heliodyssey is a project of SPACE to follow the Total Solar eclipses all over the world and perform experiments. In this highly prestigious project, school students from all over India will selected through an online exam. These selected students will travel to the location of Total Solar Eclipse internationally fully sponsored (this year it is Russia) and will trained in various experiments and scientific procedures. They become the part of the official SPACE team of astronomers and scientist to work on various experiments during the Total Solar Eclipse and record the event scientifically. They will not only get a chance to represent their school and themselves internationally but the exposure opens their horizon for scientific research and the cultural diversity adds to their personality.
The eclipse on 1st August 2008 is partial in India and Total only in Canada, China, Mongolia and Russian federation. The longer totality (time for which the sun is covered by the moon) for this eclipse at Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia is the reason for our travel to that location.
Tie Ups of SPACE for Heliodyssey: SPACE is working in close association with Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Delhi and the Russian Embassy and the Russian Space Agency in providing best of opportunities to the student scientific delegation when it will visit Russia for Heliodyssey 2008.
Russian Space Agency (RSA) is ready to extension of cooperation between the Indian and Russian organizations, and it is ready to assist and support in Program realization and support the information dissemination of achievements of the Russian astronautics in India, scientific knowledge, and cultural exchange.
RSA is ready to render necessary assistance to the organization for visits of objects and the enterprises of the Russian space-rocket industry, in particular control centre of flights.
Scientific & Social Importance of Heliodyssey: The aim behind Heliodyssey event is to inculcate interest of common man towards Abstract Science and to study the scientific phenomenon which is caused due to the geometrical positioning of these heavenly bodies.
To sum up the various factors are:
- Promotion of Scientific Temperament
- Exposure of masses to scientific procedures
- Developing interest towards astronomy and science
- Stimulating critical thinking
- Breaking myths and superstitions associated with solar eclipse
- Exposure to International Astronomy community
Total Solar Eclipse is a time when any scientific observation of any proportion can be very critical. With the totality of 4 minutes the solar eclipse of 2008 is a rare chance to amass significant information. The experiments which will be conducted during this event are:
* Visual Observation and Recording
* Photography – Corona, Diamond Ring, Bailey’s Beads
* Photographing flash spectrum
* Astronomical Observations during Totality
* Shadow Band Recording
* Corona details drawing by participants
* Temperature Variations |
