Musings of an amateur astronomer

Why Do We Ask Questions? We all have questions. Sometimes, we face difficult ideas, and our knowledge can only take us so far. Often, the questions we ask are built upon what we already know, shaped by theories and ideas we’ve learned. But then, there are the questions asked by children. These questions come without any limits, like free-spirited thoughts that don’t follow strict rules. Kids imagine new possibilities, make unusual connections, and think in ways that adults might not. It’s like when Newton wondered about a falling apple, or Einstein thought about a window cleaner, or Heisenberg noticed a walker in  street light . That’s why I write these blogs—to let those free-spirited questions guide me and to welcome discussions with experts who can help me learn more. I hope these ideas inspire you, too. Together, we can push the boundaries of what we know, especially in subjects like cosmology and astrophysics. Today's Topic: The Polarization of Cosmic Background Radiation Toda...

“Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another.” — Plato   Stirling Colgate: A Trailblazer in Astronomy and Remote Observations   As we at JVP embark on building an automated observatory dome for our telescope at Kesari Wada, it's fitting to reflect on one of the pioneers who advanced both astrophysics and automated observations. Meet Stirling Colgate, an exceptional astronomer and physicist, connected to New Mexico and, interestingly, from the family that gave us Colgate toothpaste. Colgate was at the forefront of remote-controlled telescopes, making night-sky exploration easier and more accessible for future generations.   This blog explores his pioneering work with supernovae detection, automation in astronomy, and how he helped shape modern cosmic measurements, extending even beyond the early discoveries of Henrietta Swan Leavitt.   Colgate’s Breakthrough in Supernovae Detection   Supernovae are a...

"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine." – Sir Arthur Eddington Exploring the Universe: The Mystery of Cosmic Background Radiation Hello, young stargazers! When you look up at the night sky, what do you see? Stars, planets, and maybe a shooting star, right? But did you know there’s a secret, faint "glow" hidden all around us in space? It’s called Cosmic Background Radiation (CMB), and it’s a leftover "whisper" from when the universe was just a baby! This faint glow is one of the most important clues about how our universe was born and how it has grown. Let’s dive into this fascinating mystery and discover what makes CMB so special. I promise it will be an exciting cosmic journey, even without a telescope! What is Cosmic Background Radiation? Imagine you are listening to the radio, and you hear a faint hiss of static. That sound is like the CMB, a kind of "radio static" that’s coming from all directi...

The Cosmic Journey: From Eratosthenes to Planck Observatory In 2023, at the JVP Pune Exhibition of observatories in outer space, I was handed the responsibility for COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer). It felt overwhelming at first—I barely had any idea what cosmic background radiation (CMB) was or why a whole satellite was dedicated to studying it. However, this assignment marked the beginning of a fascinating journey, leading me deep into the mysteries of the universe. As I delved into the CMB and its significance, I realized that this discovery was a pivotal moment in modern astronomy. The experience made me reflect on how humans, with only a small fraction of knowledge at their disposal, manage to deduce the grandest astronomical phenomena. I couldn’t help but draw parallels to ancient scholars, particularly Eratosthenes, who, with minimal tools, made profound discoveries about our world. His work echoed in my mind, as I considered how modern scientists can uncover the shape of the u...