Jyotirvidya Parisanstha Star Parties and Astronomy Programs
by Jyotirvidya Parisanstha (JVP)
Hands-on sky observation skills
Monthly overnight star parties, a May astronomy course and study tours run by India's oldest amateur astronomers' association.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹1,000
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Overnight star party sessions run from about 6:00 pm to a 6:30 am departure; the annual basic astronomy course runs about 20 days in May.
Time needed
One overnight session a month, near the new moon
Eligibility
Open to the public with no stated age or grade restriction. Jyotirvidya Parisanstha states that membership is open to all who share an interest in astronomy and that members come from all age groups. Each participant is booked and charged individually, and members pay a lower rate than non-members.
- Age range
- Open to all ages
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
See if your child qualifies.
Benefits
- Telescopic viewing of planets, nebulae and galaxies
- Guided naked-eye constellation and Nakshatra sessions
- Telescope library access after six months of membership
- Annual 20-day basic astronomy course each May
- Study tours to GMRT, IUCAA Girawali and the Nehru Planetarium
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Enrollment
- Open all year
Tilak Smarak Mandir, Pune., Pune, Maharashtra
How to apply
- 1Watch the JVP events page for the session announcement
- 2Book the seat online through the payment link published with it
- 3Choose the optional JVP bus or arrange own transport
- 4Report at the pickup point or venue by the stated time
Rules and guidelines
- Reporting time is strictly enforced and latecomers get no refund
- Fees are not refunded when weather forces a change of plan
- Warm clothing and closed shoes are required
- No sleeping arrangements are provided at the star party site
- Carry dry snacks in addition to the meals provided
Fees and financial support
Fee details
The overnight star party is charged per head and covers the site charges, evening snacks, dinner and three teas. Members pay a lower rate than non-members, and an optional return bus from Swargate is charged separately. Membership itself is billed annually or as a one-time life membership, with a small admin fee for new members. Payment is made online through the link published with each session announcement.
Refund policy
Fees are not refunded when bad weather forces alternative activities, and latecomers who miss the bus departure are not refunded.
About this opportunity
Jyotirvidya Parisanstha runs monthly overnight star parties and a year-round calendar of astronomy programs for the public.
Each star party is held on a Saturday close to the new moon at a farm site about 40 km outside the city. The session runs from dusk to dawn and moves between telescopic viewing of planets, nebulae and galaxies, naked-eye sessions on constellations and Nakshatras, astro-games, planetarium software and astro-movies.
Alongside the star parties, the association runs a roughly 20-day basic astronomy course every May covering the solar system, stars and galaxies, telescopes, radio astronomy, comets and meteors, eclipses, basic mathematics in astronomy and astrophotography, with one practical observing session at a dark site. Study tours visit the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, the IUCAA Girawali Observatory and the Nehru Planetarium.
Members can borrow instruments from the telescope library after six months, use the Kesariwada observatory and join observing groups working on variable stars, meteors, occultations and deep-sky imaging. Free public programs are also arranged for eclipses, transits and planetary oppositions, and the association conducts sessions on invitation for schools, colleges and clubs.
What your child will do
- Telescopic viewing of planets, nebulae and galaxies
- Naked-eye sessions on constellations and Nakshatras
- Astro-games and planetarium software sessions
- Astro-movies and slide shows through the night
- Annual 20-day basic astronomy course in May
Mentors and faculty
Sessions are conducted by volunteer members of the association, whose governing council is headed by president Ajit Kembhavi. Public lectures are delivered by scientists from IUCAA, GMRT and other institutes.
Academic details
Difficulty: Mixed Levels
What's covered
Sessions cover the solar system, stars and galaxies, telescopes, radio astronomy, comets and meteors, eclipses, basic mathematics in astronomy and astrophotography.
Frequently asked questions
Is the star party a full-night session?
Yes. It runs from dusk to dawn, with arrival at 6:00 pm and departure for Pune at 6:30 am the next morning.
Is there a place to sleep at the site?
No. There are no sleeping arrangements at the star party site, and the schedule is designed to keep participants engaged through the night.
How do participants reach the venue?
JVP runs an optional bus from Shalimar Furniture next to Laxmi Narayan Theatre near Swargate, which leaves at 4:30 pm. Participants may also travel on their own and should reach the venue before 6:30 pm.
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