CASSA

Astronomy Night 13: Echoes of Other Worlds
2026-04-04 18:00 - 20:00 (Asia/Dhaka) | Center for Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics, IUB, Plot 16, Aftab Uddin Ahmed Rd, Block B, Bashundhara RA, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
Join CASSA for a landmark evening as we celebrate our 13th Astronomy Night at Independent University, Bangladesh. This edition transcends traditional stargazing by diving deep into the most profound question in science: are we alone? Titled “Echoes of Other Worlds,” the event bridges the gap between empirical discovery and human imagination:

Echoes of Other Worlds: From Apollo & Artemis to PLATO
Between 1969 and 1972, twelve astronauts walked on the Moon during NASA’s Apollo programme, collecting over 300 kg of lunar samples and deploying instruments that transformed planetary science. After a half-century hiatus in human lunar exploration, the Artemis programme is now carrying astronauts back toward the Moon. Artemis II, launched on 1 April 2026, is sending four astronauts on a free-return trajectory around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft — the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17. This talk traces the full arc of lunar exploration, from Apollo through the robotic missions of China and India to the ongoing Artemis campaign.
But the Moon is not our only destination. The discovery of planets orbiting other stars has opened a new frontier. The transit method — detecting the tiny dimming of starlight as a planet crosses its host star — and the radial velocity method — measuring the subtle gravitational wobble a planet induces in its star — have together revealed over five thousand confirmed exoplanets. Missions like Kepler and TESS have shown that planets are ubiquitous in our galaxy, including rocky worlds in habitable zones. This talk provides a brief overview of what we have found so far and the detection techniques that made it possible.
The European Space Agency’s PLATO mission, scheduled for launch in 2027, represents the next leap. Designed to detect and characterise Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars, PLATO will combine twenty-six cameras to monitor hundreds of thousands of bright stars with unprecedented photometric precision. Crucially, it will also use asteroseismology — the study of stellar oscillations — to determine the ages, masses, and radii of host stars, enabling precise characterisation of their planetary systems. From the Moon beneath our feet to the worlds orbiting distant suns, the journey from Apollo and Artemis to PLATO traces humanity’s expanding horizon of exploration.
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Following the talk, we celebrate the intersection of science and art with the “Durer Golpo” award ceremony. This competition challenged writers to envision cultures on newly discovered exoplanets, proving that while science provides the data, storytelling provides the soul. It is a unique moment where rigorous astrophysics meets the creative pulse.
The finale of the night offers a dual-pathway into the cosmos through our signature stargazing session. Experience the future of citizen astronomy with the Unistellar Equinox 1, a robotic telescope that broadcasts images of deep-sky nebulae and galaxies directly to digital screens. Simultaneously, return to the roots of the craft with our Skywatcher 8-inch manual telescope. This powerhouse allows for optical planetary observations through a traditional eyepiece, offering a “real-light” connection to our celestial neighbors. Whether you prefer the precision of modern sensors or the raw clarity of glass optics, Astronomy Night 13 promises an inspiring window into the universe.

Time
Segment
Details

6:00 PM – 6:40 PM
Public Talk
“Echoes of Other Worlds: Astrobiology and Life in the Universe”
by Dr Khan Asad, astronomer and assistant professor

6:40 PM – 7:00 PM
Award Ceremony
Durer Golpo: Prize giving for the best short stories on astrobiology.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Stargazing
Deep-Sky: Unistellar Equinox 1 (Robotic observation via digital screens).
Planetary: Skywatcher 8” Manual (Optical observation via eyepiece)
