Sky observation camp: Growing young minds through the stars

Photo: Courtesy

As evening slips into night over Dhaka, the city does what it always does. Dhanmondi roads stay busy, horns cut through the air. Office workers hurry home, the sky above grows darker.

Beside the road, on the field of Kalabagan Krira Chakra, a different rhythm takes over. A small crowd gathers — children, elderly men, parents — everyone is there. At the centre of it all stands a telescope, pointed towards the sky.

On the evening of 31 January, the Bangladesh Astronomical Association, with support from Kalabagan Krira Chakra, hosted a Jupiter and Moon Observation Camp. It was a simple setup in a familiar neighbourhood.

I joined the line with the others. Most of us had only ever seen the Moon as a bright disc in the sky. A few minutes later, it was my turn. I bent towards the eyepiece. The Moon appeared sharp and close. Craters and dark patches stood out vividly. The brightness and detail felt overwhelming, as if I could probably touch the moon if I could try poking the ocular lens.

Soon a volunteer gently adjusted the telescope. The target shifted from the Moon to Jupiter. To the naked eye, Jupiter looks like another bright star. Through the telescope, it became something else entirely. A distant world that felt within reach for a while.

One by one, people stepped forward to look.

Among them was Lubdhak, a seventh grade student who had come from Lalmatia. His name comes from Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. The connection seems fitting. He spoke with ease and excitement.

"I have loved space since I was very young," he said. "When I see the Moon and the stars, I enjoy it a lot. I learn many things from them."

He comes to such camps regularly. His parents encourage him. For him, the night sky is not distant, rather an invitation to explore the unknown.

Many older visitors had also come. Some arrived with children. Others brought grandchildren. A few came alone, driven by curiosity. Some treated the evening like a short picnic, with light snacks in their hands. Space watching, after all, does not have to be solemn.

Dr Raima from Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital was among them. For her, the telescope stirred old dreams.

"As a child, I wanted to study space," she said. "But there were not enough opportunities in Bangladesh. So I could not study astronomy." There was a hint of short-lived lament in her voice.

"I still hold on to that childhood interest. That is why I am here. Space still feels just as astonishing as it did back then. I had some free time, so I came."

Photo: Courtesy

Distance did not stop many visitors either. Dhaka traffic is a test of patience. Still, people travelled from across the city.

One parent had come from Uttara with his two children. "I want them to grow up with an interest in science," she said. "I want them to learn how to think. How to ask questions. I want their imagination to grow."

She watched as her children talked to others, played, and waited their turn at the telescope.

"Here they meet other children, make friends, and see space together. This helps their mental growth," she said.

For the organisers, these small scenes matter. Moshurl Amin, president of the Bangladesh Astronomical Association and editor of the quarterly space magazine Mohakash Barta, sees these camps as seeds.

"Every month we organise camps like this to observe planets, moons, and stars," he said. "We try to spark curiosity among young people."

He pointed to the children gathered around the field. "They are meeting like minded children here. They are forming circles of friendship."

In a world dominated by screens, he sees another benefit. "Children today are screen addicted. For a while, they step away from screens. When curiosity grows, they will want to learn on their own."

According to Amin, the association has been doing this work for 37 years. The goal has stayed the same. To spread scientific knowledge. To bring the universe a little closer.

As night settled over Kalabagan, the telescope continued to turn until eight in the evening. The session came to an end, but the curiosity it sparked did not.