Big Bang Astronomy Club

December Gir Star Party and Geminids Meteor Shower - 2025
2025-12-12 16:00 - 2025-12-14 10:00 (Asia/Kolkata)

Winter Star Party - January 2026
2026-01-09 16:00 - 2026-01-11 10:00

Gir Star Party (SprinG Edition) - 2026
2026-02-13 16:00 - 2026-02-15 10:00

Messier Marathon - 2026
2026-03-21 17:00 - 2026-03-22 08:00
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mayank Raichura (@mayank.raichura)

The year 2026’s Messier Marathon was organised at the usual destination, Pragteshwar Mahadev Temple some 40 kms from Rajkot on Rajkot-Kalawad Highway. This allows us to skip the light pollution dome of Rajkot city while still close enough to complete the commute under 1 hour. It started with an unusually clouded weather and we didn’t have any hopes with it. The cloud cover was forecast for most of the night. But luckily, we had clear patches at the right moments like clearing up right when evening rush started or during Virgo sequence or during early morning rush in Sagittarius or Capricorn. This played right into the favour of couple of our teams.

It was the club’s 20th Messier Marathon and here are the team scores:

Neelesh I. Rana and Shaurya N. Rana — 110 of 110

Mayank Raichura and Deeva Raichura — 110 of 110

Ritik Mehta, Shaktiraj Jadeja, Vansh Chauhan, and Shivam Agraval — 96 of 110

Bhautik Mali and Yatharth Tank — 95 of 110

Parth Vasdewani, Dhruv Chauhan, and Diya Satasiya — 71 of 110

Vidhi Pobaru and Mahi Kotak — 40 of 110

The team members Shaurya N. Rana (15) and Deeva M. Raichura (14) are the youngest amateurs in India and probably in the world having observed 110 Messier objects. This is a huge feat for the members and for the club overall. Kudos to them.

As usual, the team results were submitted to SEDS and the both teams were inducted into SEDS’ Messier Marathon Eternal Hall Of Fame.

Gir Star Party - Milky Way Special - 2026
2026-04-17 16:00 - 2026-04-19 10:00

Vacation Workshops - Rajkot Sky Watch - April 2026
2026-04-24 19:30 - 21:30
Overview: A live sky observation session featuring detailed views of the Moon through some of our club’s finest telescopes, along with visible planets when conditions and sky positions allow.

Suitable For: Families, students, beginners, and astronomy enthusiasts.

Highlights: Close-up lunar viewing, possible planetary observation, guided telescope experience, basic sky orientation.

Vacation Workshop 2026 - Using a Telescope
2026-04-30 10:00 - 2026-05-02 17:00
Overview: Learn how to set up, align, handle, and use an astronomical telescope correctly for daytime and night observations.

Suitable For: Beginners, students, hobbyists, telescope owners.

Highlights: Telescope parts, focusing, finder scope use, maintenance, practical sessions.

Watch this space for more details!

Vacation Workshops 2026 - Observatory Visit
2026-05-16 19:00 - 22:00
Overview: Educational visit to Neogen Solar & Stellar Observatory to understand observatory equipment and astronomical observations.

Suitable For: Students, science lovers, astronomy learners.

Highlights: Observatory tour, telescope systems, guided session, astronomy discussions.

Vacation Workshops 2026 - Basics Of Astronomy
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-05-20 17:00
Overview: A hands-on introductory workshop covering the fundamentals of astronomy and space science.

Suitable For: School students, beginners, curious learners.

Highlights: Solar system, stars, galaxies, practical models, interactive activities.

Vacation Workshops 2026 - Night-Out Under the Stars
2026-05-23 17:00 - 2026-05-24 00:00
Overview: An outdoor stargazing experience from the outskirts of Rajkot with darker skies for better celestial viewing.

Suitable For: Students, families, sky watchers, photography enthusiasts.

Highlights: Constellation tour, telescope observation, deep sky object viewing, night sky guidance.

Watch this space for more details or follow us on Instagram.

Vacation Workshops - Rajkot Sky Watch - May 2026
2026-05-24 19:30 - 21:30
