The Zenith Astronomy Club, University of Hyderabad hosted a successful stargazing session to commemorate National Science Day 2025. The event coincided with a rare seven-planet alignment that enhanced the viewing experience. Faculty members from various departments of our university attended with their families.
The evening began at dusk with our telescope setup in Dr. Nandivada Ratnashree Observatory, School of Physics, UoH. The planetary alignment featuring Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune was visible as a celestial arc across the evening sky, providing an excellent educational opportunity.
Venus appeared as the brightest object in the crescent shape, Jupiter’s red bands and its four Galilean moons were clearly visible through our telescope. Mars displayed its characteristic reddish color, creating an interesting contrast with other planets.
The club’s Meade LX200GPS telescope also revealed the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) star cluster in the constellation Taurus. These deep-sky objects generated significant interest among participants. Club members provided information about these astronomical features throughout the session.
Throughout the evening, attendees engaged in discussions about various astronomical phenomena. The informal setting encouraged scientific exchange between faculty and students from different disciplines.
The event successfully demonstrated practical astronomy concepts while celebrating National Science Day 2025. The Zenith Astronomy Club thanks all participants for making this stargazing session a successful educational experience.