How Vizag Astronomy Club is bringing stargazing back to Visakhapatnam

On a humid evening along Beach Road in Visakhapatnam, a small crowd gathers around a telescope, waiting for a glimpse of the moon. Conversations quieten as each viewer takes a turn. Some step back in astonishment, others linger, returning for another look. These are the familiar rhythms of the Vizag Astronomy Club’s ongoing moon watch sessions, a public initiative that has gradually shaped a modest yet steady culture of sky-watching in the city.

Founded by BSS Srinivas, the club began without formal infrastructure or institutional backing. Srinivas recalls that its earliest sessions were held for neighbours, friends and family, with a single telescope and a simple intention to share what he describes as “the joy of astronomy”.

“Over time, these informal gatherings widened into structured public programmes. Our Moon Watch sessions held at the Beach Road are drawing first-time viewers as well as regular participants,” says Srinivas.

There is a certain historical continuity to these efforts. In 1840, Gode Venkata Jaggarow established an observatory on his private estate in what is now Dabagardens, marking one of the earliest engagements with astronomy in the region. While many residents may be unaware of this history, the Vizag Astronomy Club’s work is rekindling interest in the field.

Full moon.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak

The moon watch sessions, locally referred to as Chandra Darshanam, are designed as open-access gatherings. They are typically held from the fourth day after the new moon until the full moon phase, when lunar features become increasingly visible to the naked eye and through telescopes. At the Beach Road, sessions currently run between 6.30pm and 10pm, with the programme scheduled to continue until April 3. Visitors can join without prior registration, an approach that has contributed to its growing footfall.

For many first-timers, the encounter is unexpectedly affecting. Srinivas says they often react the way early astronomers did! “They realise the moon is not smooth, but full of craters, ridges and plains,” he says. During one recent session, a child, after looking through the eyepiece, remarked that he finally understood why ancient cultures built stories around the moon. “Such responses indicate how direct observation can reshape perception more effectively than mediated images,” Srinivas adds.

Beyond the visual experience, the sessions include guided explanations. Volunteers speak about the formation of lunar craters, evidence of past volcanic activity and the role of the moon in stabilising Earth’s environment. The sessions also explain how early civilisations named lunar features and developed calendars based on its phases. “The emphasis remains on linking observation with understanding, rather than presenting astronomy as distant or abstract,” says Srinivas.

Private sessions

In recent years, the club has introduced terrace-based private viewing sessions across the city. These smaller gatherings, usually lasting two to three hours, are organised for families and small groups. “Many participants prefer the familiarity of their own spaces, where conversation flows more easily and the experience feels less formal,” says Srinivas, who has conducted over 60 such sessions, often centred on events such as planetary alignments or prominent lunar phases.

The club’s equipment varies according to requirement, including Dobsonian, equatorial, Galilean and Newtonian telescopes, allowing both basic and more detailed observation. For those seeking deeper engagement, monthly star parties and astronomy camps offer overnight sessions where participants can interact with experienced observers and pursue extended study of the night sky.

The membership base reflects this widening interest. Alongside 100 long-time members, the club now has around 300 active participants. Srinivas attributes this growth to a gradual shift in public curiosity. Srinivas says many people, used to screens, expect telescope views to look like digital images. “They come with that idea,” he says. However, once they encounter celestial objects directly, the experience acquires a different significance.

At the Beach Road, in front of Ambica Sea Green Hotel sessions are held from 6.30pm to 10pm and will continue until April 3. The next Moon Watch programme will begin from April 21. For details, contact 7036553654.

Published – April 02, 2026 05:24 pm IST