Antariksh Archives

This paper explores the fundamental concepts of matter, antimatter, dark matter, and dark energy, which together form the building blocks of the universe. Matter, composed of baryonic particles, contrasts with antimatter, which annihilates matter upon contact. Dark matter, though invisible, exerts gravitational influence, while dark energy drives the universe's accelerating expansion. These concepts are critical to understanding the universe's composition, with dark energy constituting 68%, dark matter 27%, and observable matter less than 5%. Key historical discoveries are discussed to highlight the importance of ongoing research in cosmology.

The Antariksh - Astronomy Club organized an insightful Astrophotography Workshop on November 4, 2023, led by Mr. Jameer Manur, founder of the club and Senior Research Staff at IUCAA. The workshop featured three sessions: an introduction to astronomy, astrophotography fundamentals, and a hands-on experience using astrophotography equipment and software like DeepSkyStacker and Adobe Lightroom. Participants learned about celestial object visibility, camera settings (ISO, shutter speed, aperture), and the use of telescopes and CCD cameras. The event inspired a passion for astrophotography, with practical guidance and knowledge sharing.

The Raychaudhuri Equation is a cornerstone of general relativity, offering profound insights into the dynamics of spacetime, particularly in relation to singularities, gravitational collapse, and cosmology. Developed independently by Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri and Lev Landau, the equation examines how a collection of trajectories, or congruences, behaves in curved spacetime, providing critical contributions to our understanding of singularity theorems, black holes, and the expansion of the universe. Its applications extend beyond general relativity, influencing fields such as astrophysics, cosmology, and even quantum gravity research.

The Antariksh Club hosted a guest lecture on October 5, 2023, by Prof. Dhruba Saikia, who discussed the "Role of Technology in a Multi-Messenger View of our Universe." The talk explored ancient astronomy, the scientific method, and the use of various technologies in modern astronomy, including telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Square Kilometer Array. Prof. Saikia highlighted the limitations of human vision and the challenges of X-ray telescopes. The event deepened participants' understanding of the technological advancements driving astronomical discoveries.

On September 22, 2023, the Antariksh Astronomy Club hosted an enlightening session titled "Knowing the Unknown: Black Holes" at VIIT, Pune, presented by Gyanesh Choudhary. The talk explored the historical evolution of black holes, from early concepts to modern theories like the Chandrasekhar and TOV limits. Choudhary discussed key concepts such as the event horizon, singularity, and gravitational lensing, alongside detection methods like gravitational waves and X-ray emissions. He also addressed intriguing theories and paradoxes related to black holes, concluding with the poetic reminder of our cosmic connection. The session captivated the audience and deepened their understanding of black holes.

On September 16, 2023, the Antariksh Club hosted an engaging talk by Harsh Jalnekar at Vishwakarma Institute, focusing on the "Death of a Star and Introduction to Black Holes." Attendees explored the dramatic endings of stars, including supernovae, hypernovae, and kilonovae, and learned about stellar remnants like white dwarfs and neutron stars. The presentation also delved into black holes, active galactic nuclei, and quasars, illustrating their cosmic significance. A lively Q&A session addressed topics like star naming conventions and the differences between pulsars and magnetars, leaving participants with a deeper appreciation of the universe's mysteries.