From Citizen Science to Planetary Defence
Following the successful launch of the Tamilnadu Asteroid Search Campaign in 2021, CSTERC continued its efforts to create awareness about asteroids and encourage students, teachers, and young science enthusiasts to explore asteroid science through citizen-science research. In 2022, this effort grew into a larger astronomy outreach initiative that brought together scientists, educators, researchers, and citizen scientists through a series of online knowledge-sharing sessions, culminating in a grand Asteroid Day Celebration in Coimbatore.
From 24 June to 2 July 2022, CSTERC organized a nine-day online programme featuring experts from ISRO, the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, and other institutions. The sessions explored asteroids, comets, meteors, observational techniques, scientific research, citizen science, planetary defence, and the open questions surrounding minor planets.
The programme began with “Asteroids, Comets and Meteors”, delivered by Mr. V. Rajasekar, Senior Scientist, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO. This was followed by Dr. Patrick Miller, Director of the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and Professor of Mathematics at Hardin-Simmons University, USA, who introduced participants to the Asteroid Search Campaign and its opportunities for students and citizen scientists.
The programme continued with sessions on meteor detection through the CAMS (Cameras for Allsky Meteor Surveillance) Network, presented by Mr. Swastik, Head of the CAMS India Network, and the scientific importance of asteroids and minor bodies of the Solar System, presented by Dr. Priya Hasan, Co-Chair of the Women in Astronomy Working Group, IAU.
Other sessions explored fundamental and advanced aspects of asteroid science. Dr. B. S. Shylaja, Visiting Scientist at the Bangalore Association for Science Education, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bengaluru, addressed the question “Why Should We Study Asteroids?”. Prof. Elangovan Rajagopalan, Professor of Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering at KCG College of Technology, Chennai, introduced participants to the dynamics of asteroids.
The programme also highlighted the contributions of CSTERC’s own citizen scientists. Participants from the Asteroid Search Campaign shared their experiences of analysing astronomical observations and participating in real scientific research. The discussion then moved towards one of the most important applications of asteroid studies—planetary defence—with Mr. Surender Ponnalagar, Co-Founder, CSTERC, speaking about the importance of detecting, monitoring, and understanding potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.
The nine-day programme concluded with “Open Problems in Asteroids & Minor Planets Studies”, delivered by Dr. Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, Astronomer, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, giving participants an insight into the unanswered questions and future research opportunities in the field.
A Grand Asteroid Day Celebration in Coimbatore
The culmination of this online knowledge-sharing initiative was a grand Asteroid Day celebration on 30 June 2022 at Sri Ramakrishna College of Engineering, Coimbatore. School students from across the region were invited to participate in the programme, creating an opportunity to take the subject of asteroids beyond online classrooms and directly into the student community.
The event witnessed the participation of around 1,000 school students, making it one of CSTERC’s major astronomy outreach programmes of the period. The celebration introduced young learners to the science of asteroids, the importance of planetary exploration, and the role that students and citizen scientists can play in contemporary astronomical research.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Subramani, Director, Upagraha Amateur Radio Station, UR Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, who shared valuable insights into space science and technology and inspired students to look beyond conventional boundaries in their pursuit of scientific knowledge.
Building a Culture of Asteroid Science
The 2022 Asteroid Day programme represented more than a one-day celebration. It was an extension of CSTERC’s broader mission to make astronomy and space science accessible to young people and to connect them with authentic scientific research.
Beginning with the Tamilnadu Asteroid Search Campaign in 2021, CSTERC was steadily building a community of students, teachers, and citizen scientists capable of participating in real astronomical research. The 2022 programme expanded that community by bringing together international and national experts, researchers, educators, and students.
Through these efforts, CSTERC demonstrated that Asteroid Day could become a starting point for scientific curiosity, research participation, and awareness about planetary defence—encouraging the next generation to not merely learn about the Solar System, but actively contribute to its exploration and understanding.
Watch the complete online Asteroid Day 2022 session series:
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFZYfN2WLi2cI-FcK-URwwQNPPgxegFHx
