Jantar Mantar, the 18th century observatory in the heart of the capital, was crowded with young students as they got together to learn the use of astronomical instruments and celebrate 2009 as the international year of astronomy.
Aiming to create interest in astronomy as a fundamental science in daily life, the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) has been conducting ‘100 Hours of Astronomy’ at the Jantar Mantar.
The celebration saw school students being taught how to use astronomical instruments like sun dials and telescopes.
In fact many astronomical instruments are still popular by their Indian names – samrat yantra( to measure time using sun’s shadow), jai prakash yantra ( to trace the earth’s equator), mishra yantra, and ram yantra.
The Jantar Mantar observatory was built in the 18th century by the king of Jaipur, Jai Singh II, who was an astronomy enthusiast.