The Sky Watchers' Association is going to organize its 7th Astronomy Camp at Lakshmipur (details attached) in Birbhum district, West Bengal.
The four-day and three-night camp will start on and from 22nd January 2012. Our team will return back in the afternoon of 25th January 2012.
As before, the central objective of the camp is, understanding observational astronomy and practical training on it. The nature at Lakshmipur is waiting to greet us and treat us with dark sky at night.
Persons eligible to join the camp: 1) Members of the Sky Watchers' Association.
2) Family members and guests of members of the Sky Watchers' Association who are interested in astronomy and astronomical observations (no previous knowledge needed).
3) Guardian. of a minor member may accompany the ward after filling an application form and paying the fees.
Last dates for depositing fees: Registration fee: On or before 26 th November 2011.
Camp fee: On or before 3th December 2011.
Application forms may be sent to the Association's office by post or by courier along with cheque or D.D. drawn in favour of Sky Watchers' Association. Cash deposit may be made at the office of the Association on any Saturday evening on or before the last date of depositing the fees.
Lakshmipur Latitude: 23.63 N. Longitude: 87.57 E. District Birbhum, West Bengal, India.
Bibhum is known as "the land of red soil". 'Bhum' means land. In Bengali, 'bir' means hero. In local Austro-Asiatic group of languages, 'bir' means forest. There is evidence of human habitation in birbhum since prehistoric period. Stone and copper implements of Paleolithic, Neolithic and chalcolithic era are found in different parts of the district. Birbhum has reach cultural heritage. The district is well known for its folk songs and handicrafts. The Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan, established by Rabindranath Tagore, is one of the places Birbhum is internationally renowned for. The district is predominantly agricultural. There is deposit of minerals in the western part of the districi. The district has about 150 sq km of forest cover.
Our campsite located at Lakshmipur is to the west of santiniketan and near Illumbazar. It is surrounded by Chaupahari, Daronda and Ushardihi Jangal (forest). Nearby villages are predominantly tribal. The Ajay River, a major river in Jharkhand and West Bengal, is about 2 km south from Lakshmipur. If you go south of the river, you are in Barddhaman district.
Flora and Fauna: Some of the species of plants found here are arjun, sal, kend, mahua, jackfruit, guava, mango, palm and bamboo,
Some wild boars and wolves may still be spotted in the small forests. Sometimes during the season when mahua trees bloom, or when crops are there in the field, wild Asiatic elephants come from Jharkhand.
Birds include a mix of hilly and plain-land dwelling species like partridge, pigeon, green pigeon, water fowls, doyel, Indian robin, drongo, hawk, cuckoo koel, sunbird, Indian roller, parrot, babbler, and some other migratory birds.
There is no electric supply within a few kilometres from Lakshmipur.