Delhi'ites to sizzle in spectacular 'solar marathon' on June 2

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) The night of June 2 for Delhi'ites is going to be wondrous with a rare celestial event -- a sparkling parade of all the planets and some asteroids -- that has been aptly nicknamed as 'the solar system marathon'.

June 2 is one of the few days when all the planets and a few other objects of the solar system can easily be spotted in one single night.

'The solar system marathon' is being organised by Nehru Planetarium, the Amateur Astronomers Association, Delhi and Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE).

Nehru Planetarium Director N. Rathnasree says the marathon is a summer workshop to observe the solar system bodies visible on night of June 2.

''Various telescopes and observing aids will be collected on the Teen Murti lawns. The observing sessions will be interspersed with multimedia presentations, activities, competitions and interactions,'' Dr Rathnasree said.

He said there had been recent excitements in the solar system explorations, and these would be discussed. The workshop will also be about appreciating telescopes and equipments.

Giving details of the June 2 phenomenon, Dr. Rathnasree said Vesta, known as Dwarf Planet, would be brightest in 18 years since 1989, ''It is one of the rare times when it reaches enough brightness that can be seen by the naked eyes.

''Elesive Mercury is at maximum distance from the Sun (maximum elongation on June 2) and is visible for a long time in the evening.

It is the best time to catch this fast moving messenger of Gods.

Venus is very close to being at maximum elongation and will also be visible for a long time in the evening,'' he pointed out.

Further, Jupiter will be the largest and brightest for this year on June 5.

The solar system marathon will have observations of the Sun, all the planets, some dwarf planets and asteroids. The participants will also walk the famous 'Solar Walk' by making their own pinhole cameras and angle-making instruments of the positions of stars.

Some fun activities will also be part of the overnight marathon, like smell a planet, weigh a planet, making a 'Saptarishi' clock and 'Moon Antakshari'.

''This will be one of a kind of summer vacation workshop which kids will never forget, where innovative techniques and state of the art telescopes will be used to get participants familiar with the 'new' solar system,'' said the Nehru Planetarium director.

There will be a nominal registration fee for the overnight workshop. Families are encouraged to register together as the marathon is open for all age groups.

UNI