The APOGEE English Press sat down with Neerav Krishna, the Astro Club coordinator, to gain insights into the club’s work for the upcoming fest. 

Neerav introduced ‘Night’s Watch’, the club’s signature event, which allows attendees to visit the otherwise club-exclusive FD-3 terrace. He explained that the session begins immediately after the inauguration at 11 P.M. on Day 0 and runs until 6 A.M. on Day 1. He said that club members would calibrate telescopes to show people celestial wonders, specifically mentioning that they would likely be pointed toward the Moon and Jupiter to provide the best experience for the visitors.

Neerav further explained that Night’s Watch includes mini-events like astrophotography and light painting to enhance the experience. He mentioned that the club would also be screening a science fiction movie.  Participants could also listen to ‘stories about the stars, the constellations and astronomy’ narrated by club members. To make the event more accessible, the entry fee has been reduced this year, with Neerav remarking that it will be priced at an affordable cost of Rs. 80 compared to the previous year’s Rs. 100.

He then discussed the club’s technical display called ‘T-10’, which is set for Day 3 at Gym G. T-10 will be an exhibition session for the club’s passion project—a student-built model rocket. The entire undergraduate team would also be present to explain and demonstrate its working. Neerav noted that while there were some logistical hurdles yet to be managed independently, the project remains on track. He highlighted the importance of this event for an engineering college, stating that witnessing the project allows students to see that ‘finally, rocket science is happening’ on campus.

He added that the club’s final event, ‘42’, is an astronomy and astrophysics-themed quiz. Neerav noted that it is the best platform for anyone intrigued by ‘the different stuff that goes on in space’ to showcase their knowledge. He elaborated that the first round is inclusive, allowing even those who have ‘just watched Interstellar once’ to solve questions and learn something new. The quiz will feature audio and visual rounds, with a competitive scoring system kept as a surprise until the second round. Neerav mentioned that the event is completely free and offers a prize pool of Rs. 3,000 for the winners.

On a parting note, Neerav reflected on his experience as Coordinator, saying that the club members are ‘very good, very talented and very hardworking.’ He urged everyone to attend the events instead of leaving for the long weekend, pointing out that ‘this is probably one of the only times you can come to the FD-3 terrace legally’ and use high-end equipment. He concluded by saying that APOGEE has the potential to be a great fest, and it is up to the technical clubs to put forth the best of what they have.