Tag: space science

Events in Goa

“Sky Was Never the Limit”: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Inspires Students at Goa Book Festival 2026

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Day 3 of the Goa Book Festival 2026 witnessed a powerful convergence of inspiration, intellect and imagination, highlighted by an electrifying interaction with astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC, who addressed over 1,200 school students and took them on a journey beyond Earth.


“I travelled to space with a billion hearts with me. The sky was never the limit—not for me, not for you,” Shukla said, reflecting on his historic mission to the International Space Station. In a session moderated by Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, the astronaut spoke candidly about fear, discipline, perseverance and the realities of life in space.

Sharing rare personal moments, he recalled the anxiety he felt during launch, likening it to opening an examination paper despite months of preparation. He described the intense physical strain of take-off, the mental challenge of isolation away from family, and the long process of relearning how to walk after returning to Earth. Through humour and videos, he brought space closer to students—sharing stories of playing basketball in zero gravity, walking on ceilings, momentarily forgetting gravity after returning, and listening to Vande Mataram while heading to the launch pad.

Answering questions from students, Shukla spoke about missing home-cooked food, coping with separation from family, and the importance of focusing on the present. He encouraged students to dream big, stay resilient and see setbacks as part of growth. Reflecting on identity, he said that beyond borders and planets, humanity shares a single home—Earth.

He also spoke about India’s space ambitions, including the Gaganyaan mission and plans for India’s own space station, telling students that the future of the nation’s space programme would be shaped by their aspirations.

The day also featured a felicitation ceremony, where Padma Shri Vinayak Khedekar and 52 eminent literary figures from Goa—including writers, poets, novelists and emerging authors—were honoured. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT; Dr. Kiran Thakur, Chief Patron of the Goa Book Festival; and Kiran Kendre, Editor of Kishor magazine, among others.

At the Author’s Corner, the panel discussion “Konkani, Marathi, English: Multilingual Future of Goa” explored Goa’s layered linguistic identity, emphasising multilingualism as a lived cultural strength rather than a conflict. Speakers highlighted dialogue, balance and adaptability as key to preserving Goa’s linguistic harmony.

In “Ancient Stories, Modern Dreams,” author Shantanu Gupta reinterpreted the Ramayana as a framework for leadership, ethics and entrepreneurship, drawing parallels between Rama’s vanvaas and modern crises that demand resilience, responsibility and integrity.

The session “History as a Living Conversation” saw Mohan Shete, in conversation with Sanjay Chakanne, bring history alive through engaging narratives drawn from Anandmath and episodes from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. By recounting battles such as Basrur and Palkhed, Shete reinforced the idea of history as a living dialogue shaping collective identity.

Filmmaker Chandraprakash Dwivedi, in conversation with Dev Kanya Thakur during “From Text to Screen: The Art of Adaptation,” reflected on transforming literature and history into visual narratives, emphasising research, inference and creative intuition. The session was attended by Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who later felicitated Dwivedi.

The Children’s Corner buzzed with energy as nearly 2,500 students participated in dance, movement and storytelling workshops. Activities blended learning with creativity, including digital literacy through the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya platform, culminating with a staged presentation of the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Saga.

Cultural evenings added vibrancy to the festival, with instrumental ensemble Maluhaa presenting immersive compositions blending Indian and Western classical traditions, followed by powerful folk and martial art performances by Team Mammalan from Puducherry, led by Padma Shri awardee Master Kalia Mamani K. Palanivel.

Day 3 of the Goa Book Festival 2026 stood out as a celebration of curiosity, courage and cultural continuity—where space science met storytelling, and ancient wisdom inspired modern dreams.

Human Interest

Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Makes Closest Approach to Earth on December 19

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday, December 19, marking a significant moment in the journey of one of the rarest cosmic visitors ever observed in our solar system. The comet was discovered on July 1 by NASA-funded ATLAS telescopes in Chile and has since drawn global attention from astronomers and space agencies.

3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object known to have passed through our solar system, following 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. Analysis of its trajectory shows that the comet originated from beyond the solar system and will eventually return to interstellar space after completing its passage through the inner regions around the sun.

At its closest approach, the comet will come no nearer than approximately 1.8 astronomical units from Earth, or about 168 million miles (270 million kilometers), according to the European Space Agency. This distance is nearly twice the average distance between the Earth and the sun, ensuring that the comet poses no threat to Earth or any other planet as it passes through the inner solar system.

Despite the safe distance, the flyby is of major scientific interest. Observing the comet near its closest approach allows astronomers to study the dust and gases released from its icy nucleus as it warms under the sun’s radiation. These observations provide rare insights into how comets and planetary materials form around stars beyond our own solar system.

In recent months, several observatories and space agencies have focused their instruments on 3I/ATLAS. New images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and the JUICE Jupiter probe were released recently, showing the interstellar traveler speeding through the inner solar system. The comet’s passage is also being shared with the public through a free livestream hosted by Gianluca Masi at the Virtual Telescope Project, scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. EST on December 18, weather permitting.

As 3I/ATLAS continues its brief visit, scientists hope the data gathered will deepen our understanding of the building blocks of planetary systems beyond our own, making this fleeting encounter a valuable chapter in the study of interstellar objects.

TechPulse

Earth to Rotate Faster Than Usual on Select Dates in 2025, Making Days Slightly Shorter

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In a fascinating celestial event, scientists have predicted that Earth will rotate marginally faster on three specific days in 2025 — July 9, July 22, and August 5 — causing each day to be slightly shorter than the usual 24 hours.

This phenomenon is attributed to subtle variations in Earth’s rotation speed, influenced by the gravitational pull of the Moon and other complex geophysical factors. While these changes are barely noticeable to humans — often measured in milliseconds — they are significant in the realm of timekeeping and space science.

Why Does This Happen?

The Earth’s rotation isn’t perfectly constant. It is influenced by numerous factors including the position of the Moon, seismic activity, atmospheric changes, ocean currents, and even melting glaciers. The Moon plays a major role through tidal friction, which usually slows Earth’s rotation. However, on rare occasions, gravitational positioning between the Earth and the Moon can temporarily cause Earth to spin a bit faster.

What Does It Mean for Us?

Practically speaking, the average person won’t feel any different. However, ultra-precise systems — like GPS satellites, astronomical observations, and atomic clocks — closely monitor these variations. Timekeepers may need to consider these tiny changes when calibrating devices that rely on astronomical time.

These fleeting fluctuations also serve as a reminder of Earth’s dynamic nature and the interconnectedness of celestial bodies in our solar system.

So while your July and August days may feel just as long, know that — by a sliver of a second — time is moving ever so slightly faster beneath your feet.