'Study of gravitational waves challenging'

“One of the main agenda of future astronomy is the study of gravitational waves, as the inflow of sea-load of information being gathered by the instruments is huge. In this direction, it is very much relevant that the amateur astronomers must join their hands to understand this universe better,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address at the three-day UGC sponsored national conference on “Astronomy and Astrophysics,” organised by Poorna Prajna College in association with Association of Physics Teachers of Mangalore University at Poorna Prajna Auditorium here on Thursday, he said astronomy is a pure science, driven by human curiosity.

The growing symbiosis of particle physics with astrophysics and cosmology has recently produced some interesting developments in understanding of physics.

Determining the nature of missing mass is one of the important problems in cosmology and particle physics. Undoubtedly, dark matter has become one of the most fascinating subjects of cosmology and particle physics which requires a real attention.

In most regions of the universe, dark matter and visible material are found together as expected because of their mutual gravitational attraction, he added.

“We are still not in a position to understand Sun,” he said and added that the inner core of the Sun and its dynamics is being understood to some extent. But the outer cover called corona is very complex, he said. Earlier, inaugurating the conference, DC Hemalatha said astronomy is not a strange subject anymore.

“We have been fascinated by the term right from our birth.” The contribution to the field of Astronomy by astronomers like Aryabhata and Bhaskara were most remarkable.

They were responsible for discovering many planets and stars in the sky well before the invention of telescope, she said and added that rural mass who had the habit of sleeping under open sky were not only able to identify the stars and planets by gazing at sky but also calculate time and period, she added.