Public Workshop-India Ancient Cosmology: the Sky then and the Sky now'

This is a three days' workshop on August 5, 6, and 7 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, including instruction and observations. 

Part 1 will be delivered in the computer lab AD 143 of Evergreen Valley College. Part II will consist of observations and hands on telescope activities at the College's Montgomery Hill Observatory. This workshop is limited to 30 participants. Attendance is required in all three nights. Handouts will be provided by the organizers. Interested participants must register for the workshop to reserve a computer by joining our Meetup group "Starry Evergreen, at the Montgomery Hill Observatory" at: 

http://www.meetup.com/Starry-Evergreen-at-the-Montgomery-Hill-Observatory/

Part 1 – The Sky then…Cosmology in ancient India was based on an organic and cyclic Universe, governing byperiods of existence and creation (Manvantaras) and periods of complete destruction and dissolution (Pralayas), each lastingseveral billions of years. In addition, the Universe was conceived as consisting of several layers or worlds (lokas), each inhabited by heroes, gods, and semi-gods, with some of layersstanding beyond the reaches of perception. In this Part 1, we are going to examine the Puranas and Vedas - the original sources of all these ideas - indicating where Astronomical bodies such as groups of stars (Pleaides, Big Dipper, Polaris, Alcol, etc) and planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, etc) became associated with each of these lokas and invisible beings.

Part 2 – The Sky now … Cosmology nowadays is a field of Astronomy responsible for describing the Universe in large scale, how it came to be what we observe, and what are the agents governing the dynamics of such Universe. Among the main actors in this "cosmic play", space takes up the entire stage, with galaxies, stars and their planets taking up secondary roles.  In this Part 2, we are going to present modern cosmological world views, with participants observing some of these "actors" with telescopes. In addition, participants will be initiated to the proper handle of telescopes, how to point, and how to find celestial objects using astronomical finding charts.

Also, check out our website at: http://evc-cit.info/astronews/