For 11-year-old Atharv Sood, trying on the night time sky started as a fascination with planets, stars and distant galaxies. As we speak, that curiosity has taken him past merely observing the skies. As a part of Satya College’s Younger Scientist Programme, Atharv lately participated within the Part I of the All-India Asteroid Search Marketing campaign (AIASC) 2026 and was credited with three preliminary asteroid detections.
The expertise additionally earned him recognition from the Worldwide Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), with Atharv listed as a part of Crew SPACE Scanners 1.
FROM A BACKYARD TELESCOPE TO A REAL ASTEROID SEARCH
His curiosity in astronomy had been rising for a while, however a telescope gifted by his mother and father on his final birthday introduced the topic nearer to house.
“I’ve loved observing the Moon, Jupiter and different objects. Seeing them with my very own eyes made house really feel a lot nearer and extra actual to me,” Atharv stated.
At Satya College, astronomy and house science are a part of the training expertise via its House Lab and Younger Scientist Programme. It was via the varsity that Atharv acquired the chance to participate within the asteroid search marketing campaign, the place college students work with precise astronomical information somewhat than merely finding out house from textbooks.
Earlier than starting the search, the scholars underwent coaching organised by SPACE India in collaboration with IASC. They learnt to make use of Astrometrica, a software program used to analyse astronomical photographs, and have been skilled to determine objects that appeared to maneuver throughout a sequence of photographs.
“We have been really getting the possibility to participate in an actual asteroid search,” Atharv stated.
The duty required persistence. College students got astronomical photographs captured at completely different instances and needed to examine them body by body. Whereas stars appeared to stay fastened, a potential shifting object might shift barely between photographs.
For Atharv, recognizing that tiny motion was probably the most thrilling half.
‘MAYBE I HAVE FOUND SOMETHING’
“I used to be fastidiously evaluating the astronomical photographs once I seen one thing that seemed to be shifting. My first response was pleasure, however I knew I needed to be cautious as a result of it might have been one thing else. I checked the photographs once more and thought, ‘Perhaps I’ve discovered one thing!’” he recalled.
His mother and father say the achievement was the results of an curiosity that had been steadily deepening somewhat than a sudden fascination.
“Atharv’s curiosity in house developed regularly. He has all the time been fascinated by the size of the universe and would usually ask questions on planets, stars and what lies past them,” his mother and father stated.
After receiving the telescope, they seen that his curiosity didn’t fade after the preliminary pleasure. He continued observing the sky, studying about house and returning with questions on what he was seeing.
“Now we have primarily tried to provide his curiosity room to develop,” they stated, including that they encourage him to learn, watch instructional content material and discover topics that genuinely curiosity him.
His trainer at Satya College stated Atharv’s curiosity was evident even throughout classroom discussions.
“He wasn’t glad with merely figuring out the details. He would ask questions on how celestial objects transfer, how astronomers map the sky and the way phenomena in deep house are studied,” the trainer stated.
Through the asteroid search, his consideration to element and persistence stood out. The trainer stated Atharv would revisit photographs, examine potential candidates and guarantee he was assured earlier than continuing.
For Atharv, nonetheless, the three detections are much less concerning the recognition and extra about what the expertise has taught him.
“The popularity was rewarding, however what stayed with me probably the most was the sense of curiosity it sparked, encouraging me to study extra about astronomy,” he stated.
His fascination with house was additionally fuelled by one thing far faraway from scientific analysis. The Marvel universe. Its fictional worlds, galaxies and black holes made him inquisitive about what would possibly really exist past what people at the moment perceive.
He’s significantly intrigued by questions surrounding black holes, the evolution of galaxies and the potential of life past Earth.
“I’m not fully certain but what I wish to change into, however I do know that I get pleasure from science, expertise and house,” Atharv stated.
An ISRO go to deliberate via Satya College is one other expertise he’s eagerly awaiting. He hopes to see the amenities, perceive how scientists work with house expertise and get a glimpse of what occurs behind the scenes.
His mother and father, in the meantime, are in no hurry to determine what his future ought to appear to be.
“We do not have a hard and fast profession path in thoughts for him. We’re excited to see the place his curiosity and pursuits lead him within the years forward,” they stated.
For now, Atharv’s IASC certificates sits alongside his different trophies and accolades in his room. However maybe extra important than the certificates is the behavior behind it. Trying carefully, asking questions and being prepared to look once more.
“I might like to work with telescopes or discover house sometime, maybe at an organisation like ISRO or NASA,” he stated.
“This expertise has inspired me to maintain asking questions, studying and exploring what lies past our planet.”
– Ends
