Starscapes, a leading astro tourism company, is set to host ‘Celestial Hour’, a webinar series on astronomy. The inaugural session on April 24 will spotlight the Alaknanda Galaxy, featuring its discoverer, astronomer Prof. Yogesh Wadadekar, who will be in conversation with Dr Smriti Mahajan to talk about his experience of finding it.
Prof. Yogesh Wadadekar from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) will take participants through the story behind this extraordinary finding, offering insights into the science and significance of the discovery.
Discovered using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Alaknanda Galaxy is the earliest known large, disk-dominated spiral galaxy, formed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. What makes the discovery particularly intriguing is its size and structure, which challenge existing theories of how galaxies formed and evolved in the early universe.
In this one-hour interactive session, Prof. Wadadekar will unpack:
- The discovery process and the role of JWST
- Why the Alaknanda Galaxy is scientifically significant
- What this means for our current understanding of galaxy formation
- How such discoveries reshape our view of the early universe
With over two decades of experience in galaxy evolution and radio astronomy, Prof. Wadadekar has contributed to major international collaborations, including the Square Kilometre Array, and has authored more than 100 scientific publications. Known for simplifying complex astronomical ideas, he brings both depth and accessibility to the session.
The webinar is part of Starscapes’ ongoing effort to democratise access to astronomy and make cutting-edge space science conversations available beyond academic circles.
Event Details:
- Date: April 24, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM IST
- Duration: 60 minutes (including live Q&A)
- Format: Online (Live Webinar)
- Registration: Free (limited seats)
The session is open to students, educators, astronomy enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the universe.
To Register: go to the link
https://www.starscapes.zone/webinar-registration/
