Don't forget to see the stars when visiting Goa

Panaji: It started in a small cubbyhole in the dusty attic of a shabby, paint-peeling building housing government offices. But a couple of decades later, the Association of Friends of Astronomy (AFA) in Goa has much to cheer about: 2009 is the International year of Astronomy.

"Our ancestors were more aware of the sky than they were about the earth. The map of the earth was first crafted about 400 years ago whereas the sky was mapped nearly 600 years before that," says AFA secretary Satish Nayak.

This year would see a host of new activities in Goa related to astronomy, ranging from an astro-film festival to astro-photography workshops, Nayak told IANS. "We're also going to have events to get children interested in astronomy."

One teenager, an active member of the AFA and one who claims to be possessed by astronomy, is Vishal Khandeparkar, who has devised an almanac aimed at helping an amateur to ascertain and identify the exact position of celestial body or group on any night.

"On any night in 2009 you can look at the sky and identify any object with the help of the almanac. It is to help make astronomy people-friendly," Khandeparkar says.

"We have an astro-kids club where we expose children up to the age of 15 to astronomy. It is best to catch them young. There are studies to show that till the age of 15, the two things that interest children most are dinosaurs and space," said Percival Noronha, a septuagenarian and the longest serving friend of AFA.