Pluto, an object which was once known as a planet

Many people ask me why Astronomers classified Pluto from planet to dwarf planet category? Last few years the voices demanding for the planet status to Pluto has weakens. But it is very interesting question people still wondered that what was the necessity of classifying Pluto. Debate for the status of Pluto as a planet was not recent ones. Astronomers has taken doubt time to time on Pluto as new observations came since its discovery. We will see that how Pluto became a dwarf planet. But, before that let me tell you a short story of Pluto's discovery. It's a fascinating story. The search for Pluto began before Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer, was even born. It began with the Percival Lowell who during his lime time was best known for his work for a Mars planet.

Percival Lowell

Lowell believed that Mars had intelligent life. He thought there were canals on Mars that the Martians had built. He suffered a lot of ridicule from other astronomers for believing such fantasies. Lowell in the 1890 had actually founded an entire observatory to study planet Mars which still exist to this day in Arizona, United states. 

In order to get even with other astronomers who were ridiculing him for his work on Mars, he wanted to discover a new planet in the solar system. He called this hypothetical planet, a Planet X. He thought that if he could predict the location of another planet, and then find that planet, he would attain the prestige that had eluded him in all his work on Mars. 

He began his calculations, using observations of the motion of planet Neptune. He was hoping to see deviations in that planet's motion around the sun that would signal the gravitational effect of more distant planet on the orbit of planet Neptune. Unfortunately, Lowell died in 1916, before Planet X was ever found. Lowell observatory had to stop their search for planet X because of many reasons. 

Clyde Tombaugh

But then in 1929, Lowell observatory hired a young man from Kansas (U.S.), Clyde Tombaugh. Clyde Tombaugh was only 22 at that time. He was very skilled observer from the beginning of  his young age only. He implemented a search for the Planet X. Tombaugh started taking photographs of sky in night time from telescope and in day timings he used to check those photographs. He was checking any movement of object in these series of photographic plates taken from same sky region with regular interval of days. It was laborious work to check these photographic plates. During his search he found several objects like asteroids and comets. 

on February 18, 1930 he saw an object moved which was not seen before. It took many days for the confirmation then they came to conclusion that it is a planet. The discovery of this Planet X was inspired by Percival Lowell and Clyde Tombaugh's hard work which he put into searching millions of stars to find this tiny, faint object in distance space.

Telescope which was used to search Pluto, Source;sciencephotolibrary

The Lowell observatory team were allowed to name it, because the had discovered it. They put a public request for suggesting interesting name for this newly find object. They settled on PLUTO, a name suggested by an eleven year old school girl from Oxford, England (it wasn't named after the Disney's famous character, but the roman god of the underworld). It was perfect name for this distance world after the Roman god of underworld and its two initial letters PL were initials for Percival Lowell.

The solar system now counted nine planets in it.

Since its discovery astronomers could see very little of this distance world. Very less was known about Pluto for long time. Astronomers weren't sure about Pluto's mass and size until the discovery of its largest moon, Charon in 1978. By knowing its mass which is 0.0021 Earths, they could more accurately gauge its size. The most accurate measurement currently gives the size of the Pluto is 2400 km which is smaller than earths moon. Pluto's moon also showed that it is not rotating around Pluto, but these two object rotate around the common center of mass which is located outside of the Pluto. Astronomers thought its not what planet shows with their moons. They suggested its more like the binary planet system.

Pluto and Charon rotating around common center of mass

Pluto is tiny, but it was considered lager than anything else beyond the orbit of Neptune. Over the last few decades, powerful new ground and space based observatories have completely changed previous understanding of the outer Solar System. Instead of being the only planet in its region, like the rest of the solar system, Pluto and its moons are now known to be just a larger example of a collection of objects called the Kuiper Belt. This region extends from the orbit of Neptune to outer region of solar system up to 55 astronomical units. (1 Astronomical Unit is a distance between Earth and Sun).

Astronomers estimate that there are at least 70,000 icy objects with the same composition of Pluto. Astronomers again asks what Pluto should be called a planet or not a planet?

Astronomer's nervousness, Pluto's data was not indicating it as a planet

Astronomers had been turning up with larger and larger objects in the Kuiper Belt. Object Makemake, discovered by Caltech astronomers team was only little smaller than the Pluto. There are several other Kuiper Belt objects in that same classification. Caltech team discovered another object further than the orbit of Pluto. It was same size of the Pluto even some believed it was bigger than Pluto. officially named 2003 UB313, the object later designated as Eris. Since, its discovery, astronomers have determined that Eris size is approximately 2,600 km. It also has approximately 25%  more massive than Pluto. 

With Eris being larger, made of the same ice/rock mixture and more massive than Pluto, the concept that we have nine planets in the solar system began to fall apart. What is Eris? a planet or Kuiper Belt object. What is Pluto then? Astronomers decided they must take decision about the planet at the 26th general assembly of International Astronomical Union. It was held from August 14 to August 25, 2006 in Prague, Czech Republic.

26th General Assembly of IAU in 2006, voting for Pluto

Astronomers from the various association were given the opportunity to vote on the definition of planets. One version of the definition would have actually boosted the number of planets to twelve. Pluto was still a planet and so were Eris and even Ceres, which had been thought of as the largest asteroid. A different proposal kept the total at nine, defining the planets as just the familiar ones we know without any scientific rationale, and a third would drop the number of planet down to eight and Pluto would be out of the planet club. In the end, astronomer voted for the controversial decision of categorize Pluto (and Eris) to newly created classification of "Dwarf Planet". They put some rule for an object to known as planet.

For an object to be a planet, it needs to meet these three requirements defined by IAU

It need to be in orbit around the Sun - Yes, so may be Pluto is planet

It need to have enough gravity to pull itself into spherical shape -Pluto is still planet

In needs to have "clear neighborhood" of its orbit - Uh ohw... according to this its status is in trouble

What does "clear neighborhood" means? As planet form, they become the dominant gravitational body in their orbit in the solar system. As they interact with other, smaller objects, they either consume them, or sling them away with their gravity. Pluto is only 0.07 times the mass of the other objects in its orbit. The Earth, in comparison, has 1.7 million times the mass of the other objects in its orbit.

Any object that doesn't meet this third criterion is considered a dwarf planet. And so, Pluto is a dwarf planet. There are still many objects with similar size and mass to Pluto jostling around in its orbit. And until Pluto crashes into many of them and gains mass, it will remain a dwarf planet. Eris suffers from the same problem.

Even though Pluto is a dwarf planet, and no longer officially a planet, it will still be fascinating target for study. It will help us to understand the outer region of our solar system. NASA sent their New Horizon spacecraft to just look at planet Pluto. New Horizon passed by Pluto in July 2015 and transmitted first ever pictures of this dwarf planet and its moon Charon. From these pictures astronomers now know much about Pluto. We will see about this mission some other time.

New Horizon flyby Pluto in 2015 

Many people still asks what is the necessity of classifying Pluto or any other object in this category? Yes their is necessity for such categorization. Because, science is the systematic study of the universe. We tried to understand and define things/events/phenomenon around us. For the ages there were not a single definition available for the objects called planets. The only way to define them was they were wanderers across the earth's sky. In the beginning years of astronomy these objects were few, because of limitations of human eyes. When telescopes enhances our vision we began to start see many of them. Then the need pf classification came up with our new observations. It was very necessary to define these new objects for our better understanding of solar system. Now, with new definition or criteria we can study and understand our solar system as well as extra-solar system objects too.

references and images for this article are taken from universe today, space.com, gify and IAU websites.

Pictures from the Lunar Eclipse of the century

There were much talk about this Lunar eclipse because it was very special for this century. It was the longest total lunar eclipse of the century. Eclipses happens in June, July, August and September are usually depends upon the mercy of monsoon clouds. I remember many eclipses which washes in the Monsoon clouds. I have never witnessed Total Solar Eclipse. Shadow of the moon on earth surface is very small so it could visible from small geographical belt. On 22 July I was in that shadow belt, but monsoon clouds covered this show on that day. 

This time also I was feeling that, there are chances of happening this events under clouds only. From entire day sky was covering with thick clouds of monsoon. But, astronomy is full of surprises you never expect what will happen. This time when partial eclipse was going to start means around 11:45 pm I just peek out side and saw clouds were started getting clear and full moon appeared with bright red planet shining near to it. It was sudden. Then I immediately, take out my simple camera, DSLR camera. Binocular, camera stand, mobile and telescope. I just wanted to get ready with whatever came in my hand 😄. 

I got few good pictures from camera and did some telescopic observations. on the same day Mars was also in opposition to earth. Mars shining big brightly near to eclipsing moon. I took time to observe this red planet. It was very windy so mars detail was not visible clearly through telescope but if sky condition get settle in coming days then mars will be the great object to observe for next days. 

When moon moved into umbra of earth it turned into red. This time red color was bit darker from last 31 January eclipse. But it was great to see both Mars and Red Moon together. how many time we will get such opportunity. I struggle with my camera setting to capture this red pair. For an hour was awake. Then, clouds started gathering after giving good two and half hour of clear sky. I could see half of the eclipse part but it was great to observe and capture it. Here, are some clicks from the eclipse. 

The red pair of Planet Mars and eclipsed Moon

The night of the Blood Moon and the Red Planet

Night of 27th July is very special for the sky watchers. On this night two special events are going to happen. These two events are very rare to happen together. One is the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century and other is the opposition of planet mars. 

27th July Lunar eclipse is the longest eclipse of the twenty first century. Usually, total Lunar eclipses are longer because earth's shadow is very big at the point of lunar orbit. Earth's shadow size is approximately 2.6 times bigger than moons diameter. Even at the speed of  3,682 kilometer per hour moon takes much time to cross earth's shadow. Time of totality depends on the from which part of the shadow moon moves. Last lunar eclipse on 31 January 2018 moon passes from the southern part earth's umbral shadow. It's totality lasted for the 1 hour and 6 minutes. On 31 January moon was at perigee means nearest point to earth in its orbit. Moon was big and near to the earth so it could crosses earth's shadow comparatively fast. 

31 January 2018 Super moon Eclipse, photo taken by me 

On 27th July moon will be at apogee, means it will be at farthest point from earth in orbit so its size will be comparatively small. At this time moon will be passing through the center part of the earth's shadow so it will take time for moon to cross earth's shadow. Moon will be eclipsed for the 1 hour and 43 minutes. This is the duration of totality only. Entire Lunar eclipse is much longer. There are some stages are involved in lunar eclipse which help us to understand path of the moon through earth's shadow. 

Lunar eclipse happens when moon passes through earth's shadow but earth forms two kind of shadows one is Umbra this is center part of shadow which is dark and there is another shadow around umbra which is called Penumbra. Penumbra is the lighter than umbra. When Lunar eclipse happens moon first touches the outer portion of the penumbra this is the beginning of the penumbral eclipse. Next stage moon touches earth's dark shadow umbra this the beginning of partial eclipse. From here onward one can see earth's shadow traveling on the moon's surface. Naked eyes feels that its moving slowly but though telescope one can see the speed of earth's shadow when it gradually gulps moons surface features. After that moon totally goes into earth's umbra and it starts showing red color because some light from sun passes through the earth's atmosphere and fall on moons surface. Redness of eclipsed moon depend upon the activity of the earth's atmosphere. 

Different stages of Total Lunar Eclipse

Then there is a stage called as maximum eclipse this is the middle of the eclipse. After maximum eclipse moon starts traveling to the other end of shadow and touches inner edge of umbra shadow this is the end of total eclipse and again partial eclipse start. Moon start moving out of the umbra and enters in penumbra here, partial eclipse ends. In the last stage moon travels through penumbra and then come out entirely from earth's shadow.

27 July 2018, Eclipse timings for Indian Sky watchers are as follows 

Penumbral Eclipse will start at 10:44 pm IST (Indian standard time)
Umbral Eclipse will be start at 11:54 pm IST
Totality will start at 1:00 am IST on 28 July
Maximum eclipse at 1:52 am IST
Totality ends at 2:43 am IST
Partial eclipse ends at 3:49 am IST
Penumbral eclipse ends at 4:58 am IST

Total Duration of eclipse is 6 hours and 13 minutes 
Total duration of totality is 1 hour and 43 minutes

Animation of total lunar eclipse stages of 27th July 2018, Timings are given in Universal standard we can add Indian zone time of 5:30 hrs to get Indian timings, Sours: earthsky.org

Many people do not find Lunar eclipse exciting as solar eclipse. Might be because of their long duration but lunar eclipses have significance in many ways. Lunar eclipse at ancient times gave opportunity to figure out earth's shape and its size. Nowadays also one can measure size of earth by measuring earth's shadow size on lunar surface. If you don't want to do any measuring just see earth's curve shadow and imagine how people find out its spherical shape.

With the Total Lunar Eclipse, the red planet Mars is aligning opposition with Earth on the same day and coming close to earth. On this day we will get opportunity to see eclipsed blood moon with red planet Mars. They will be near to each other during eclipse. So, do not miss the opportunity to see these two red celestial objects on 27 July night.

Eclipse moon and red planet mars can be observe near to each other, Source: Stellarium 

Planets, Opposition and Retrograde motion

Last year season of sky watching went without any visible planet in evening sky. So, last year I spent nights watching deep sky objects like star clusters, Galaxies and nebulae. These objects are interesting and have importance in sky watching. But with telescope in hand anyone would like to watch planets. There are seven planets in our sky and in these seven planets we can observe five without help of any optical aid. These five planets are very interesting. If you have any small telescope you can observe changes on them. Mercury and Venus shows phases like Moon. On mars surface you can observe changes like dust storms and shrinking and expansion of polar cap. Jupiter shows very dynamic features on its gaseous surface. Saturn with its beautiful ring display magnificent sight in telescope.

Last year we missed them from our evening and night sky. But from last some months they are making their presence in our sky again. From Last few months Venus is stunningly bright in west horizon after sunset. In may month Jupiter was in opposition and then on 27 June Saturn was in opposition. At the end of this month on 27 July Mars is also going to be in opposition. So month by month they are making their presence and some of them are also getting closer to earth on opposition in their orbit.

Opposition is very interesting alignment of planets and it's also provide great opportunity for sky observers to see planets. At this position planets come at exactly opposite to Sun and Earth in their orbit. When planet comes at this position they rise at sunset and set at sunrise which means they stay maximum time in earth's sky. In case of Jupiter you observe its maximum surface as its day is only of 10 hours. At opposition planets reflects maximum light so appear bright at this position. Opposition is condition at which planets comes directly opposite side of Sun and Earth in their orbit. This condition applied to the Superior planets means planets beyond earth orbit like Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Different alignments of planets with respect to Earth

Different kind of alignment happen with the inferior planets which are located in between earth and sun which are Mercury and Venus. They never comes to opposition. In their case when they comes in between sun and earth its called as Inferior conjunction. At inferior conjunction if they come in plane of Sun and Earth we can see then travelling on Sun disc, its called as Transit. When they Go beyond Sun its called as superior conjunction and we can not see them as they are located exactly beyond Sun. In superior planets condition its called as conjunction. For seeing maximum part of inferior planet they must go far from sun in their orbits. This is called as planets elongation from sun. When they get maximum far from sun its called as planets Maximum or Greatest Elongation from sun. At this greatest elongation inferior planets visible in sky for more time before sunrise or after sunset. 

Unlike stars planets stays in motion constantly. Apart from these conditions planets also sometimes shows retrograde motion. Planets shows motions like direct which is their regular motion in sky which is toward east (there is daily motion of planet also in which they move from east to west, this happens due to earth's rotation on it axis). Sometimes they stop and start moving westward and again stops and then again picked their regular motion. Jupiter was in retrograde motion from 9th March and it ended on 11 July this month. Retrograde motion appears when Earth in her orbit passes other planets in their respected orbit. From earth, observer see that planet is moving backward which is east to west and then again start its direct motion which is west to east. Retrograde motion is long time motion. Planet keep moving in this motion for several days. Its very interesting to observe planets such motions. In 2003 Mars showed retrograde motion which I observed, it was great experience to observe planet moving background of stars. Mars was moving notably quick. Observing planet at different alignments and motions give clear picture that how all these planets with earth move around sun that what Copernicus and Galileo said. So, keep eye on planets for next few months.

Retrograde motion of planet Mars in 2003 as seen from Earth

Note:Images are taken from various internet sources

ग्रहण, अंधविश्वासों का वैज्ञानिक सहारा

आज जो बाते मैं आपके साथ साझा करने वाला हूँ , ये बातें मैंने ग्रहण संबंधी अलग अलग कार्यक्रमों के दौरान शिक्षक और विद्यार्थिओं से की है| अक्सर जब कोई खगोलीय घटना होनी होती है, तब हम शिक्षक, विद्यार्थी और समुदाय में ऐसी घटनाओं को लेकर कुछ जागरुकता एवं सजगता के लिए कार्यक्रम करते है| ग्रहण जैसी खगोलीय घटना को लेकर ज्यादातर लोगों में भय होता है| साथ ही लोगों का कुछ मान्यताओं पर भी गहरा विश्वास होता है | इससे जुड़ा हुआ एक अनुभव में आपको बताना चाहूँगा | गत वर्ष की बात है, जब राखीपूर्णिमा थी | मैं बाज़ार से गुज़र रहा था कि तभी मैंने देखा दो बाइक सवार एक दुसरे से भीड़ गए| दोनो बाइक सवार गिर गए | उन्हें लोगों ने उठाया और पूछताछ की कि भाई कही लगी तो नहीं, कहाँ जा रहे थे इतनी तेज़ी से? जवाब था, “जी, ग्रहण शुरू होने वाला है तो उससे पहले ही राखी बंधवानी थी, देर हो रही थी इसीलिए तेज़ी से जा रहे थे |” आप समझ ही सकते है की किस प्रकार लोग ग्रहण को अशुभ मानते है और शुभ समझे जाने वाले धार्मिक विधिओं को ग्रहण में करना नहीं चाहते| सिर्फ धार्मिक विधियाँ ही नहीं किसी भी प्रकार के दैनिक कार्य भी लोग ग्रहण समय में नहीं करते | इसके अलावा भी कई प्रकार के अंधविश्वास ग्रहण को लेकर आमजन मे व्याप्त है।  

पूर्ण सूर्यग्रहण image source: internet

इसके पीछे की वजह अगर हम देखना चाहे तो, पुराने समय से मनुष्य ने प्रकृति में एक व्यवस्थित संचालन को देखा है | यह संचालन सूर्य का उदय और अस्त होना, दिन रात का बनना, चन्द्र का घटना बढ़ना (कलाएं), ऋतुओं का आना जाना, सब एक नियत क्रम में होता है | पर कभी-कभी इन नियमित चलने वाली घटनाओ में व्यवधान आते है | जैसे जब किसी दिन आकाश में सूर्य पूरी चमक से मार्गक्रम करता है और तभी उसकी रोशनी कम होते होते अँधेरा छा जाता है तो लगता है जैसे सृष्टि का चक्र गड़बड़ा गया हो | जाहिर सी बात है, जब मनुष्यों के खोजबीन के तरीकों में वैज्ञानिक जाँच पड़ताल नहीं थी, तब इसका कारण किसी दैवीय या असुरी शक्ति को मान लिया जाता था| ऐसा ही चंद्रग्रहण के दौरान भी होता था| चन्द्रमा की चमक फीकी पड़कर वह लाल रंग का हो जाता था | ग्रहणों को दुनिया भर की सभ्यताओं में एक बुरी घटना के रूप में ही देखा जाता था और आज भी देखा जाता है|

दुनियाभर में ग्रहण को एक बुरी घटना के रूप में देखा जाता था, क्योंकि इन्सान इसके वास्तविक कारणों को नहीं जानते थे | image source, internet

ग्रहण के पीछे के कारण के रूप में भारत में एक कहानी सुनने को मिलती है | समुद्र मंथन के वक़्त जब अमृत कलश निकला तब असुरों ने इस पर अपना हक़ बताया | असुर अगर अमृत पी गए तो अमर हो जायेंगे, यह देवों को मंजूर न था | तब विष्णु ने एक सुन्दर स्त्री का रूप धारण कर असुरों को मोहित कर लिया | विष्णु के स्त्री रूप मोहिनी से असुरों ने अमृत कलश विष्णु को सौंप दिया | विष्णु जब देवों को अमृत बांटने लगे, तब एक असुर राहू, जिसे विष्णु की चाल समझ आ गयी थी, वह भी देवों की पंक्ति में आ कर बैठ गया| उसे भी अमृत दिया गया | लेकिन सूर्य-चन्द्र ने उसे पहचान कर विष्णु को बता दिया | विष्णु ने अपने चक्र से उसका सर धड से अलग कर दिया लेकिन तब तक तो राहू अमृत पी कर अमर हो चुका था| वह वैसे ही दो टुकड़ो में जिन्दा रहा जहां शरीर के सर वाले हिस्से को राहू और धड वाले हिस्से को केतु कहा गया | कहा जाता है की राहू, सूर्य और चन्द्र से उन्हें ग्रास कर (खा कर) बदला लेता है |

इस कहानी में राहू, सूर्य और चन्द्रमा की वजह से देवों की पंक्ति में मारा गया |  image source internet

ग्रहण के दौरान लोग सूर्य चन्द्र की राहू-केतु से मुक्ति के लिए तरह तरह की चीजें करते है | जैसे शोर मचाते है, ढोल बजाते है, जिससे जो भी असुरी शक्ति है वह सूर्य चन्द्र को छोड़ दे | यज्ञ – हवन, पूजा पाठ किये जाते है | भगवानों की मूर्तियों को ढका जाता है या फिर पानी में रखा जाता है, ताकि राहू और केतु की छाया भगवान पर न गिरे | लोग इन राहू केतु को सच मानते है और इनसे डरते भी है | लेकिन वास्तव में देखा जाये तो राहू केतु से ग्रहण नहीं होते| सूर्य को ग्रहण तब लगता है जब सूर्य और पृथ्वी के बीच चन्द्रमा आता है | सूर्य और चन्द्र हमारे आकाश में लगभग एक ही आकार के दिखते है इसलिए चन्द्र सूर्य को ढक पाता है| सूर्य के सामने आने की वजह से चन्द्रमा की छाया बनती है और धरती पर जिस जगह वह गिरती है वहा से लोग सूर्यग्रहण देख पाते है | चन्द्रग्रहण में चन्द्रमा और सूर्य के बीच पृथ्वी आ जाती है और धरती की छाया चन्द्रमा पर पड़ती है | जिन छायाओं को अशुभ समझा जाता है वास्तव में ये छायाएं चन्द्र और पृथ्वी की होती है। जिन्हें राहू और केतु समझा जाता है, वे असल मे काल्पनिक गणितीय बिंदु है| चन्द्रमा की कक्षा, पृथ्वी-सूर्य के तल को दो बिन्दुओं में छेदती है | यह छेदन बिंदु ही है राहू (Ascending node) और केतु (Descending node)| यह कोई वास्तविक पिंड नहीं है | इन बिन्दुओं पर सूर्य और चन्द्रमा पृथ्वी के सापेक्ष एक दुसरे के सामने या विरुद्ध आते है और ग्रहण की स्थितियां बनती है |

राहू और केतु काल्पनिक गणितीय बिंदु है, जहाँ चन्द्रमा की कक्षा, पृथ्वी-सूर्य के तल को दो बिन्दुओं में छेदती है | image source internet

ग्रहण के दौरान लोग ग्रहण छाया से पानी और खाने आदि को बचाने के लिए कुछ शुध्द समझी जाने वाली वनस्पति का इस्तेमाल भी करते है | जैसे भारत के कुछ हिस्से में पानी में तुलसी पत्र रखा जाता है | अगर खाने पीने की चीजों पर तुलसीपत्र नहीं रखा गया तो माना जाता है की ग्रहण छाया से यह अशुद्ध हो गया है और उन चीजों को फेंक दिया जाता है | काफी बार यह भी कहा जाता है की हमारे पुराण में विज्ञान है | ग्रहण समय पर खाने पीने की चीजों पर तुलसीपत्र रखे जाने के पीछे कारण दिया जाता है की सूर्य चन्द्र की रोशनी जिस समय पृथ्वी पर नहीं रहती है, उस समय खाने पीने की चीजो में जीवाणु पनप जाते है | हर धर्म में लोग यह कोशिश करते है की किस तरह उनके धर्म या परम्पराओं में विज्ञान है | लेकिन यह जाने बिना की आज के विज्ञान की नीव जिन प्रयोगों के आधारों पर खडी है, वे ऐसे दावों को खोखला साबित कर देते है | विज्ञान कहता है की जीवाणु उन परिस्थितिओं में पनपते है जो उनके लिए उपयुक्त होती है | जैसे सही तापमान, नमी और उनके भोजन की उपलब्धता | हमारे खाने में जीवाणु कभी भी पनप सकते है | गर्मियों और बरसात के वक्त खाने में तुलसीपत्र रखने पर भी खाने में जीवाणु पनप सकते है | जीवाणुओं को पनपने के लिए अगर सिर्फ कम रोशनी चाहिए होती तो पृथ्वी पर  ऐसी परिस्थिति हर रोज लगभग बारह घंटे रात के समय होती है| लेकिन मनुष्य को तो कभी ऐसी जीवाणुओं की भरमार का सामना नही करना पड़ा| हमारे खाने पीने की चीजे सिर्फ ग्रहण में दूषित होती यह समझना गलत है |

पढ़े लिखे लोगों  मे भी ऐसे विश्वास पाये जाते है जो इन धारणाओं को आसानी से नहीं छोड़ते | एक स्कूल में ग्रहण के बारे में बच्चों से बातचीत कर रहा था| पूरी बात हो गयी | उनके शिक्षक जो भूगोल पढ़े हुए थे, जो जानते थे की कैसे ग्रहण महज परछाई का खेल होते है , उनका कहना यह था की “भाई ठीक है विज्ञान जो कहता है सो तो है, लेकिन हमारे पूर्वज जो करते थे उसके पीछे कोई तर्क तो होगा| तो क्यूँ नहीं सिर्फ सेफ साइड के लिए हमे खाने पीने की चीजों पर तुलसीपत्र रखना चाहिए |” यहीं गड़बड़ हो जाती है | हम मानते है की हमारे पूर्वज सब जानते थे, लेकिन यह मानने में भी बुराई नहीं की हमारे पूर्वज सब चीजे नहीं जानते थे | सिर्फ सेफ साइड रखने के लिए हम फिर से उन अंधविश्वासों को मजबूत बनाने का ही काम करते है जिन्हें दूर करने की आवश्यकता है| जब ग्रहण होता है, तो चन्द्रमा की छाया धरती के एक बड़े हिस्से पर गिरती है| जहाँ नदियां, तालाब, खेत और वन होते है | क्या ग्रहण की छाया से यह दूषित हो जाते है? और क्या किसी वनस्पति से पृथ्वी के इतने बड़े भूभाग को शुद्ध किया जा सकता है? हम इसी भू-भाग के संसाधनों को ही ग्रहण के बाद उपयोग में लाते है| वास्तव में मनुष्य सृष्टि पर अपना अधिकार जता कर उसकी ग्रहण से रक्षा करने की चेष्टा करता है, पर देखा जाए तो यह खुद की हंसी उड़ाने जैसा है |

ग्रहण को एक प्राकृतिक घटना के तौर पर ही देखा जाना चाहिए| image source internet

एक और भ्रान्ति के समर्थन में वैज्ञानिक कारणों का सहारा जाता है | गर्भवती महिलाओं को ग्रहण के दौरान बाहर नहीं जाना चाहिए क्योंकि ग्रहण के दौरान हानिकारक रेडिएशन धरती पर आता है | दावा करनेवाले कहते है की, वैज्ञानिक भी इसे मानते है और इसीलिए ग्रहण देखने से मना करते है | वैसे वैज्ञानिको का दावा किसी और ही परिपेक्ष से है | हानिकारक रेडिएशन की बात करे तो जब भी हमारे आकाश में सूर्य होता है, तब भी बड़ी मात्रा मे हानिकारक रेडिएशन धरती पर आता रहता है| सामान्य दिन के सूर्य को भी देखना हानिकारक होता है | ग्रहण के सूर्य से भी यही रेडिएशन आता है | लेकिन वैज्ञानिक ग्रहण को देखने से मना नहीं करते | वे सिर्फ यही कहते है की आप ग्रहण के फ़िल्टर चश्मों से इसे देखिये |  चन्द्रमा का तो अपना खुद का प्रकाश नहीं है तो उससे हानिकारक रेडिएशन आने कि कोई संभावना ही नहीं | जब चंद्रग्रहण होता है तो चन्द्रमा खुद पृथ्वी की छाया में चला जाता है तो यहाँ किसी भी प्रकार का रेडिएशन नहीं आता | विज्ञान की उथली समझ रखने वाले लोगों ने इन मान्यताओं में आम लोगों का विश्वास बनाए रखने के लिए विज्ञान का बिना सोचे समझे इस्तेमाल किया है |

ऐसी घटनाओं के दौरान सबसे ज्यादा आतंक टीवी न्यूज़ चैनल और अखबार फैलाते है | अपना TRP बढाने के लिए किसी बाबा या साधू को बुलाकर किस तरह से ग्रहण के मनुष्य जीवन पर परिणाम होंगे, इसे बताया जाता है | सबसे ज्यादा अंधविश्वास ऐसे समय में न्यूज़ मीडिया द्वारा फैलाया जाता है | इन्हें देखने वाला दर्शक वर्ग इससे प्रभावित होता है | ऐसे समय में न्यूज़ मीडिया को जिम्मेदारीपूर्ण काम करते हुए, इसके असली कारणों के बारें में लोगों को बताना चाहिए और ज्यादा से ज्यादा लोगों को इसे देखने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करना चाहिए |

मेरे मित्र ने यह कार्टून मुझे whatsapp पर भेजा था, आज का सच है |

शिक्षक क्या कर सकते है ? बच्चों में वैज्ञानिक सोच को बढ़ावा देने के लिए यह एक अच्छा अवसर होता है |  अगली बार किस तारीख को ग्रहण होने वाला है, इसका क्या अर्थ है, यदि इस प्रकार कि चर्चा व इसके पीछे क्या वैज्ञानिक कारण है यदि विद्यार्थियों को बताया जाए तो यह उनके लिए ज्ञानवर्धक सिद्ध होगा। मनुष्यों ने काफी समय प्रकृति की इस घटना का अवलोकन किया, चन्द्र सूर्य पृथ्वी के गति का अवलोकन किया और उन्हें गणितीय सूत्रों में बाँधा और बताया की अगली बार कब होगा | ग्रहण कोई दैवीय घटना नहीं है जो किसी अलौकिक शक्ति की मर्जी से होता हो | ग्रहण सिर्फ एक प्राकृतिक घटना है | विज्ञान के अवलोकन, अध्ययन, तार्किकता हमे प्रकृति में घटने वाली घटनाओं के पीछे के सही कारण पता करने की क्षमता देता है | वैज्ञानिक सोच हमे प्रश्न करना सिखाती है | इस सोच के साथ हम हमारे विद्यार्थिओं को रुढ़िवादी विचार और और अन्धविश्वासों पर प्रश्न करना सिखा सकते है |

बच्चों में वैज्ञानिक सोच को बढ़ावा देने के लिए यह ग्रहण अच्छा अवसर होता है | image source internet

Telescope, Jupiter and Sketching

My father gave me first telescope when I pass 12 grade. Actually we went to buy a binocular but we ended up in purchasing telescope. It was good deal in binocular budget. My new telescope was 90mm reflector telescope. I was very much excited to see through it. First light descended in my telescope from heaven was the light of Jupiter. The greatest planet in our solar system. It was stunning view of planet Jupiter. The bright yellow disc with brown and orange belts on it. Two belts on equator region was very prominent. It was much like of cricket ball with seam. Then there were four bright lights specs from some distance of this Jupiter disc all align in equatorial plane. These four light specs were four Galilean satellites. This was permanently imprinted in my memory. It was my first observation. On that day planet Jupiter gave me very encouraging picture of upcoming telescopic observation.

After Moon I find Jupiter is the most promising candidate for the telescopic observation. It is big and shows observable features on its discs. These features included it's equatorial belts, polar region belts, great red spot and many storm like features. Jupiter is gaseous giant planet so it's features keep changing and always shows us something new. It's four satellites displays eclipse show. Every thing happens near Jupiter is very rapidly so we can see changes in one night only.

Jupiter through telescope, Image taken by my friend Ashish Sharma with telescope and mobile camera combination

Now when you have telescope then you should also take down your own observation from it. For long time I only used to observe objects through telescope I was not having idea how to record my observations. Then I found book for beginner observer, 'the Sky' written by David Levy. This book become holy book for me. Levy has given many techniques to record observation. When I started recording my observations I preferred to draw objects like old time sky observers rather than taking photographs. I did this because drawing can develop observation skills. Capturing direct image with camera can not give always good observations as most of the times one can get image with blur lines. Drawing does not required great skill or knowledge of art. One can just start doing it and he/she goes on improving in it.

Galileo's sketches of Jupiter, I wondered how he manage to do such nice sketches of Jupiter with four satellites through his crude telescope, Image source, Internet

Jupiter is good to draw but it is challenging too. Jupiter day is less than 10 hours, means everything on Jupiter rotate very fast and scenario changes rapidly. So, you get very few minutes to draw it. If you take much time then picture at Jupiter region change. Due to such fast rotation Jupiter has pressed at polar region and slightly expanded at equatorial region. Jupiter looks oblate in shape due to this. There are features on Jupiter like equatorial belts, in between these belts there are bright belts are called as zones and these belts and zones are disturbed by festoons and bridges.

Jupiter sketch by me, we can see its moon Io at left edge of Jupiter and its shadow on Jupiter, Upperside I sketched Jupiter and its four moons

I take 5 to 10 minutes to look at details appearing on Jupiter surface and after that I sketch it. First I sketch outlines and then fill details in it. One can observe many detail on disc with bigger telescopes. I did most of the observation with the 90 mm telescope so for me it is easy to observe features on Jupiter's equatorial region, at polar region I can not observe much. Even colors are difficult to identify. I started to use color pencils for drawing but after sometime I realizes that it is not giving correct picture of actual observation so I stopped to use color pencil. I now use just pencil with 2HB or 4HB. For color I just write the color of band. Observing planets also required good sky conditions.

When I see my old observations and recent ones I can see how my observation has improved my sketching and details. Every time I look at Jupiter, it shows me new scenarios. Sometimes his belt disappears, new storm appear on it, its moons plays hide and seek around it, also one can see moons shadows marching on it. What else one observer wanted to see. 

Jupiter Sketch by me, we can see Great Red Spot a storm on upper center of sketch

Story of Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species

God said; Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

-Bible on creation

I think it’s very difficult to tell when humans have started thinking about their origin as well as the existence of material world around them. But, it was obvious to think themselves as a unique creature and entire world is built to conquer by them. It gives more meaning to human life. Bible tells story about human’s creation in such a way. Not only bible tells story of creation, it was narrated in every religion in every culture. Religion tried to give some answers about creation. Philosophers like Aristotle said that “nature never work aimlessly, instead it try to make things more perfect. Like that nature created life form from very simple form to complex and more perfect beings like humans.” Aristotle’s philosophy literally influenced every religion which develops later. Everybody believes that all life forms were created by some supreme power and humans are more perfect version of that creation.

But, what if life came into being by accident and all species existed are by chance only. Yes it sounds more unconventional but true. In 1859 ‘the Origin of Species’ was published and after that world was never same place. This book put big question on story about creation in religious books. Darwin’s book with simple language and arguments shows that there is no one running the show of life on earth. It also gave birth to various debates on religion vs science after that. It was a major turning point in the history of science.

I was fascinated by the idea of evolution so decided to read some book on that. One day I picked a Marathi book named ‘Utkranti’ (Evolution) by Sumati Joshi. This book tells about how theory of Evolution developed throughout the course of history from ancient Greeks to Modern Human Genome project. It was nice book. But I stuck on the Darwin’s character. Darwin’s work revealed the evolution of life was obvious. I decided to know more about Darwin and his work The Origin Species. Then one day I found a book ‘Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species’ by Keith Francis. This book told that story of ‘the Origin of Species’ is not simple one.

Keith Francis book is one of the books in Greenwood Guide to the Historic events, 1500-1900. This book is very descriptive and narrates story of Darwin in six chapters which tell about the impact of Darwin, his life, about his book and its background, reception of his theory, evolution in twentieth century and way forward about theory of evolution. If one reads the Origin of Species, he or she needs to understand the drama which had happened behind this book. Here, book by Keith Francis book ‘Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species’ fulfills that.

A book by Keith Francis Tells the story around Darwin's work

Keith tells about life of Charles Darwin in second chapters. He covered many small events in Charles life. Like his family, life at Edinburgh and Cambridge Universities, his hobbies, his friends, life on HMS Beagle, Life after voyage includes his marriage and writing on various topics, and death of Darwin. Charles Darwin Born in very rich family in England. His dad Robert Darwin was very successful doctor of Shrewsbury town. He lost his mother when he was eight. His sisters became his surrogate mother. From the early childhood Darwin became fond of activities like long solitary walks, collecting eggs, shells and mineral, collecting varieties of insects and beetles. These activities laid foundation for him to understand nature to become a Naturalist. But, his father worried about his son activities, he thinks that Charles should stop these activities and should pay attention to his studies or he will be disgrace himself and name of family too.

Like his Brother, Erasmus Darwin, he was also sent to Edinburg University to become a doctor. At that time medical science was not that much developed. Even use of anesthetics during operation was yet to be discovered. Crude methods of treatments, sight of human blood makes him sick. He fled during stomach- churning operation on child. He decided that he will never become a doctor. During his days at Edinburgh he continues his activities to learn more about nature. He made many friends like John Edmonstone, freed black slave who taught him how to stuff and mount birds. Charles another friend Robert Jameson taught him course in geology and zoology. His friend Robert Grant also inspired him because he abandoned his medical practice to study marine life. He also joined ‘Plinian society’ a group of students who meet regularly to discuss papers on natural history. These things were going to help Charles during his voyage on HMS Beagle.

His father became angry after hearing that Charles literally wasted his time on his natural stuff rather than studying medical. Then Charles was sent to Cambridge for studying Art. There he met two person who change course of his life John Steven Henslow, botanist and geologist. John Henslow motivated him to learn geology. Henslow also suggested his name for the Voyage of HMS Beagle as naturalist. Another person Adam Sedgwick taught him basics of geology and he became enough knowledgeable to be the ship’s geologist.

When Charles was appointed as naturalist on the HMS Beagle he got the lifetime opportunity to explore the world outside the England. Charles was good at recording and documenting. He recorded each and every species he saw during his voyage. He was also recorded geography of places he visited. This record and documents help him later to formulate his theory. During voyage he spent more time near South America coast. There on Galapagos Islands he saw variety of geographical conditions and life form. His study of geology and biology helps him to understand connection between geography and life forms.

HMS Beagle, Source:internet

Charles became a very famous man after publishing his papers on Beagle voyage. Now his father was proud of him. After voyage Charles married to his cousin Emma Wedgewood. He spent happy and quite married life. Charles spent most of the time writing various papers as naturalist. He was honored by various awards. He wrote book Origin of Species and Descent of Man. He usually avoids going in public functions and dinner parties. Darwin died in 1882 at his house. Darwin had lived a full life, fun-loving student, explorer, naturalist, husband, father, best-selling author, public figure, and old man. From shy schoolboy to the most prominent scientist of the nineteenth century, it had been a very ordinary and an extraordinary life. 

 In Third chapter of the book author describe story behind the book ‘Origin of Species’. He described early theories on evolution, Charles work on Beagle, his writing on book. It tells Charles theory of evolution was not occurred in like eureka moment. It took long time to appear in Charles mind. His records and samples help him to formulate this theory. After his voyage he wrote many articles and papers in various journals on his voyage and geography.

His work on Origin of species started from 1854. He devoted his most of time to write his observations from notes and records. He was not only writing from his notes but also he was checking and comparing his records from various places. He read An Essay on the Principle of Population by Thomas Malthus and it gave Charles an idea. Malthus, an English economist, suggested that competition for limited resources, particularly food, was a major reason for disputes and wars. Applying Malthus idea to species, Charles surmised that those animals and plants that were best adapted to their environment would survive the competition for resources; the struggle for existence, species that adapted poorly would die.

Charles had connection with people from various occupations like naturalist, scientist, philosophers, breeders, and farmers. In Origin of Species Charles mentioned their work as reference. He does not state any ideas in isolation. Variation was one of such idea. In Christianity, fixity of species had long history. Peoples believed that species never changed into another species after god created them. Dog was the same dog which god have created. So idea of variation and mutation was quite in trouble. But, Charles mentioned his farmers and animal breeder friend’s experiences. Animal breeder for getting desired characteristic they choose certain individuals with available characteristic from animal group. There were many Pigeon breeders in England who breeds various species of Pigeon like English Fantail, English potter and English carrier.

In this way Charles put his arguments with very common and simple examples. Charles hesitated to publish his work because he thinks his work is challenging ideas of Christianity and he should not let involve himself in any dispute. He also thought his observation and interpretation were different because no other naturalists were close to his conclusion. One day he got a paper from young Alfred Wallace his paper showing exact conclusion like Charles. He realizes the gravity of his work. He thought Wallace will fight with him over this theory, but Wallace accept Charles yearlong work and let him publish theory on his name.  

Darwin and Wallace, Source:internet

In next chapter Keith tells the story of reception of Charles book from 1859-1920. It tells how debates happened over it in public, scientist and philosophers. Charles completed his work on his book and first publication came in 1859. His book got mixed responses, some welcome his theory some opposed it. His theory came in such time when Britain was going under various reforms. Like, British abolished the slave trade, enacted major reforms of voting systems, debates and development were happening on rights of women and on the definition of democracy. So, people accepted and debated on his theory too. Charles never participated in any debate on his theory. His friends Thomas Huxley, Joseph Hooker, Charles Lyell, Richard Owen, Asa Grey, Louise Agassiz, Ernst Haeckel and even Alfred Wallace defended his theory of evolution.

In next two chapters author particularly gave theory of evolution in twentieth century. Author says, Charles Darwin’s book Origin of Species was not complete solution on the problem of evolution but it helps to improve vision about it. Darwin’s theory of evolution not only explained existing phenomenon of life forms but also it gave predictions for unsolved problems; here his theory was best amongst other theories. Many complications in theory of evolution were solved in later time after understanding role of genes and DNA.

Darwin was not the only man who works on theory of evolution. Many people work on it like French scientist Georges Cuvier, Georges Louise Buffon, Jean- Baptist Lamarck, Etienne Geoffroy, and Saint Hilaire all were worked on theory of evolution before him. But their theories somewhere assumes that all forms of plant and animal life were created by God for specific purpose in mind. But Darwin showed by his theory that natural selection is the process that enable various forms of life to change from a particular form to different one. Here Darwin was different in thinking from other naturalist. His view of biology was mechanical. He did not involve an entity outside of nature to make the machine of nature work instead he chose to explain extinction and distribution of different species around the world by referring to the process of natural selection. 

One particular thing I like very much about this book is that list of detail references and bibliography. These references are very useful for the history readers. At the end of the book author also gave list and short introduction of peoples who influences Darwin’s theory. Darwin wrote his theory by giving some references of many scientists, philosophers and breeder’s work, list of these persons also given at the end of book. It is very useful and nicely narrated book that one should read.

Book: Charles Darwin and Origin of Species

Author: Keith Francis

Publishers: Greenwood Publishing, London