Mysore/Mysuru: The Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre (COSMOS), Mysuru, recently conducted an event at the Karnataka Police Academy Summer Camp, Nazarbad, for 1st to 10th grade students to educate them about the basics of astronomy.

The event was attended by 60 students who are the children of serving Police officials.

N. Amoghavarsha, Project Associate, COSMOS, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Vijnana Bhavan, Manasagangothri, gave a talk on the basics of astronomy.  The students were explained about the different types of eclipses and how they occur, the phases of the moon, the reasons for the different seasons, objects in the night sky, etc.

They were shown two types of telescopes: reflective and refractive. The differences between the two types were explained, including the pros and cons of each of them. The students were also shown sunspots using both telescopes, and the outreach team explained the science behind sunspots. A demo on how to use telescopes to observe sunspots safely and the importance of using proper protective solar filters while observing the sun was explained.