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Indian astronomy student discovers asteroid

Madhuri Velegar K in Bangalore

Astronomer S G Bhargavi at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Koramangala, Bangalore, discovered an asteroid on March 17 at the Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur, Tamil Nadu.

The asteroid has been confirmed to be a new one by the Minor Planet Centre in the US and designated X C1999 220 (The first bit determines the date, and 220 the observatory).

"Sure, I am happy I made the discovery. But I would have been even happier had I observed traces of gamma ray bursts, the subject of my Ph D thesis,'' she said.

Gamma ray bursts are bursts of energy from deep space that yet defy definite explanation. These could be caused by the collision of super-dense neutron stars, the sudden collapse of a massive star into a black hole or other exotic mechanisms.

Bhargavi had hoped to find the counterparts of a few recent GRBs during her ongoing observational programme on optical studies of GRB fields. For which she had booked telescope time for 5, 6 nights from January to March, when the sky over the VBO is clear. She took 6 images of the sky region where a recent GRB occurred on March 17, for a duration of 2 hours.

When she examined the frames the next day, she realised that one of the faint objects was moving in successive frames as compared to other objects in the frames. Her colleague checked the list of asteriods to make sure this one had not already been discovered. Bhargavi informed the Minor Planet Centre of her discovery, and the exact time and position of the asteroid in the frames.

Professor N K Rao, who researches and teaches stellar evolution, says, "For a young astronomer, finding an asteroid must be exciting. Though we know there are more than 2,000 to 3,000 asteroids around the earth and astronomers discover them regularly, it is still exciting. I'm sure she'll continue her observations, trace its orbit and record her findings."

Bhargavi, however, is uncertain of that.

"At present, the director (Dr Ramnath Cowsik) -- also my supervisor and mentor -- is out of the country. And the asteroid is not my main area of study. GRBs are. Whether I'm allowed the time to go and make more observations depends on my supervisor. After all, I have a time frame to finish my Ph D, which will take at least one more year."

Bhargavi was part of an Indo-US Asteroid Search Project seven years ago at the same institute. "Something went wrong and the project was shelved. I wish I had discovered this asteroid then; it would have meant so much to me at that time though I'm happy I discovered it even today. In a very small way I feel I have contributed to the world of science.''

According to Professor Rao, S Ramanujam, also a student at the IIA, discovered an asteroid that is now named after him. It was discovered at the same observatory.

He expects better results "once we have our telescopes (one of 2 metres range and the second of 50 cm range) installed at the Himalayan range, in Leh and Ladakh."

Bhargavi 's husband Dr Shiv Sethi, who is an astrophysicist, studies cosmology at the Mehta Research Institute in Allahabad. His reaction to her discovery?

"Oh, he said, 'Good'!" But if my dad were alive, he would have been very happy. I have told my mom who lives in Mangalore but she has not registered it as yet, I think. All my sisters and family are quite excited."

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