New Delhi  : SPACE the pioneer organization working towards the development of science and astronomy in India, will conduct its flagship project “Project PARIDHI”, to measure circumference of earth during the Winter solstice (shortest day) on 21st December, 13 by using Delhi landmark Jantar Mantar, as a Gnomon (Gnomon, a greek word for an object whose shadow serves as an indicator of time especially of the hour of the day) from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm with around 100 school students. 21st December, 13 is the time, at which Sun is at its southernmost point in the sky, will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This day is marked as the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere. Students will measure the shadow of the sun using gnomon sticks and measure the shortest shadow at local noon.

Join SPACE at Jantar Mantar on 21st December, 13 from 9:30am to 1:00pm and be a part of this 2300 years old experiment. To participate in Project PARIDHI, one can register themselves at http://www.space-india.org/participate-in-space-events.html before 16th December, 13.

Mr. C. B Devgun, President SPACE, said that “Project Paridhi” is one of the best examples of hands on science activity as one can calculate the circumference of earth by using simple backyard tools. With the help of this project we try to spread science education/knowledge amongst the students and people particularly at a location where a lot of tourists visits”.

Project Paridhi is a flagship project initiated by SPACE Foundation in the year 2010, in order to popularize Hands on Science. Under this project, SPACE experts will replicate and in fact take actual measurements of the shadows made by the Sun to measure the circumference of Earth as done 2300 years back by astronomer – Eratosthenes. SPACE has been conducting this project from the past 4 years at various national heritages like Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar and also by using the giant sundial constructed at Barapullah during the commonwealth games.

In this experiment students have been able to calculate the circumference of earth to an accuracy of 99% with comparison to the real circumference. With the help of this project SPACE has highlighted that such Indian monuments can be used as tools to demonstrate and get the common man interested in science. During last autumn equinox, 10% of the students measured the circumference with above 97% accuracy, and 90% of the students achieved 90 to 95% accuracy.

 

Event Details:

•             Day & Date – Saturday 21st December 2013

•             Venue – Jantar Mantar

•             Time – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

•             Info on experiment – http://space-india.org/paridhi

Source : Lokesh Shastri