As planetarium show progressed, I noticed one thing. Earlier part of the show explained how ancient astronomers tried to gain knowledge about heavenly bodies just by observing their motions in the sky from Earth’s surface. These ancient astronomers did not have any powerful telescope to make minute observations about heavenly bodies. Ancient Indian astronomers imagined various section of the sky based on the motion of main heavenly bodies like Sun and Moon and various shapes of groups of stars. Ancient Indian astronomers called these constellations as Rashi and Nakshatra. Out of these constellations, Orion constellation has great importance. Ancient Indian astronomers knew the circular motions of stars and planets in the sky, so they divided 360 degrees of circle of sky keeping North Pole Star at the center of this circle into 12 equal parts of 30 degrees each. This is like carving 12 pies from disc shaped pizza with each pie making angle of 30 degrees at the center.

I always wondered about imagination power of these ancient astronomers. Today we can see the images of Earth taken by our satellites which gives us exact picture of spherical shape of Earth and shapes of landmasses on Earth but ancient astronomers never got chance to see such pictures.

As show progressed, it was shown that how satellites gave us clear pictures of Earth and our Solar System. It was shown how sphere of the earth looks like when seen from a satellite. The bright part of Earth which was receiving sunlight looked like a back of a tortoise while dark part of Earth which was not getting sunlight was invisible.

Then show covered all the planets, the sun and the moon and lot of unique information regarding these planets was provided. It was also shown that how we see different phases of moon, solar eclipse and lunar eclipse. It also covered entire lifecycle of the sun. Different stars have different life cycle depending upon its size and temperature. Our Sun is a middle size star, so it was shown how it will become Red Giant one day and how will be the end of our star Sun. Like planets comets are also part of our Solar System. Unlike planets, comets rotate in long elliptical path, so they can be seen only when they come closer to Sun. These comets spend long duration of time away from the sun, so these are not visible for very long duration.

I still remember that day when I was in 6th standard. It was informed in our school that one comet is going to pass very close to the earth’s rotational path, so that comet will be visible through naked eye. It was also informed that  shower can also be seen during night time. Me and my friends decided to gather together at night to observe the comet and asteroid show. We gathered at one of my friends house and went to terrace. We were curiously waiting to see the comet and asteroid shower. After sometime, the comet was visible in one portion of the sky. We all enjoyed that view of the comet. After that we witnessed asteroid shower. We saw many bright lines formed by asteroids for very short duration. That was one of the most memorable day of my life. I had read many things about comets and asteroids in the space encyclopedia which my mother gifted me.

As show continued, it was shown how the structure of our galaxy. How humans developed various telescopes to observe our galaxy and universe. Humans conducted many space missions. How first human landed on the moon. Many more things were covered in the planetarium show. It was a very informative show. I really enjoyed it. It took me to my childhood days and reminded me of my curious nature since I was a child. As show ended, we all came back to our college hostel.

After end of our college days, everybody went on with their lives. We all had received the joining dates for our respective jobs. I went home to enjoy holidays with my family. The planetarium show had deep impact on me and it reignited my curiosity in subject of astronomy.

Inspired by the planetarium show I decided to utilize my free time at home by researching on some of my childhood questions. I decided to read my space encyclopedia book again to improve my knowledge about astronomy as a subject. As a child, I found it very interesting that how ancient astronomers imagined various images while observing patterns of stars in the night sky. After All, this great imagination power of humans helped them to invent new concepts and technologies. In space encyclopedia it was mentioned that using different patterns of stars in the different parts of the night sky ancient astronomers imagined different Zodiac signs. They imagined shaped like fish, lion, crocodile, bull, etc. as zodiac signs. I really found this method of imagining different animals in the pattern of stars to define boundaries in the sky. This must have helped ancient astronomers to make difficult task of remembering positions of stars and planets in the sky at any time very easy.

They used these shapes to define directions and seasons too. For example, they imagined a shape of small bear near North Pole Star they called this shape of stars as Ursa Minor. This Ursa Minor helped them to define boundary of North direction. Ancient Indian astronomers called this Ursa Minor constellation as Saptarshi Nakshatra. Similarly, other shapes of constellations helped them to define other directions. Similarly, they imagined a shape of a deer for one group of stars called as Mruga Nakshatra. So, they defined season when Sun enters Mruga Nakshatra as symbol of rainy season. Western astronomers called this constellation as the Orion. Similarly, they associated other other directions and directions with positions of stars.

When I was in school, one experienced teacher taught us a method to remember various things like dates, stories, etc. He told us that if we want to remember any difficult concept then best way to remember that thing is by associating it with something which you can remember easily. Usually we can recall or associate things which we see in regular day to day life like animals, trees, etc. I think, this same method was used by ancient astronomers to help people understand difficult concepts of astronomy.

As a child, I was always curious about things I used to saw around me. Usually, I used to ask my curious questions to my mother. I used to trouble her lot with my funny questions. I still remember the long list of my silly questions like why trees can’t move? Why water is transparent? Why all birds can’t swim? Why fish can’t fly and how fish breathes in water?

She never stopped me from asking questions. She believes that one who has questions will only try to find answers to those questions which will help to gain more knowledge. Her encouragement always helped me to keep my curiosity alive. Along with Space Encyclopedia, she also gave the book named Children’s Knowledge Bank. This book has answers of lot of my such childhood questions. I still have those books with me.