kakastrobservatory Gudivada. India
 

                           My name is  K. Anil kumar.  I am working as a physics educator (with a particular personal interest in astronomy), in Gudivada, India. My goal is to educate students "hailing from AGRICULTURE background" in observational astronomy, familiarizing them with the tools, techniques using and conduct astronomy events for all to show the beautiful HEAVEN's above . We made photos using a 2-inch Galileoscope and a 2 MP camera on a Nokia 5130c moblie phone. We acquired the Galileoscope thanks to Dr. Pedro Russo, ESO I.A.U. Coordinator for IYA2009 (and now with the Science Office, and   Dr. Rick Fienberg, the IYA2009 Galileoscope Conerstone Project Chair (now Press Officer and Education & Outreach Coordinator for the AAS).

                              I received A4 sized Baader AstroSolar TM Safety Film from Babak Sedehi, owner of Canadian Telescopes and manager of the STAR program for Astronomers Without Borders (AWB). We used a small piece (a 4cm square size) of the Baader Film, made a film holder (cell) using a piece of cardboard 15cm square. Additionally, Deborah Scherrer, of the Stanford SOLAR Center, also sent me a full-aperture Seymour Solar filter for the Galileoscope― this filter was also used for imaging the Transit of Venus(ToV), Ms Scherrer also donated a 3.15 inch refractor telescope through the Astronomers without Borders' Donate a Telescope program. I also received CORONADO PST as donation Through “BIG project” programme Of  Astronomers Without Borders (AWB),  Calabasas, California, USA On "Fiat Physica" BY Sir Mike Simmons, President and CEO,Astronomers Without Borders (AWB),   Calabasas, California, USA and Madam Christie McMonigal, Project Leader/Manager at Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) With help of  Madam Karan Jay, Sir Bob Conner and Sir Michael Mills, , for which we are most grateful.

                              With this equipment myself along with my students were able to successfully observe and photograph the MOON with and without colour filters, the transit of Venus and Mercury, Sunspots on the solar disc with and  without colour filters, observe and photograph the Lunar Eclipses (31 st January 2018), Partial solar eclipse (26th December 2019).

                              I am avid amateur astronomer and Physics educator having the thirst for knowledge in Astronomy and to impart to everyone's heart the   "Beauty of Heaven's above".