About Us

Who hasn't been captivated by the serene vastness of the midnight sky, mesmerized by the gentle glow of the moon or awestruck at the sight of a shooting star? The universe beckons with its mysteries and wonders, inviting us to explore and connect with its infinite beauty. If you’ve ever yearned to deepen this connection, look no further into your childhood dream.

Astronautics Club at IIIT Hyderabad is a vibrant student-run community united by our shared passion for space. The word Astronautics is a fusion of Astronomy and Aeronautics, perfectly encapsulating our dual passion for Astronomy and SpaceTech. From captivating stargazing sessions with our telescope to mesmerizing star parties on the serene outskirts of the city, we bring the cosmos closer to you. Our journey doesn’t stop at observation. We work on ambitious projects and have participated in several national and international competitions, gaining invaluable experience and recognition along the way.

Whether you are a seasoned stargazer or a curious beginner, we welcome everyone to embark along into the journey of discovery, innovation, and exploration!

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Frequently Asked Question

Curious about our past, what kind of events do we organize and how you can join Astronautics Club? Find all your answers here!

History behind the club

The idea of starting an Astronomy club struck one of the founders on Himalaya block terrace where Prof. Praveen Paruchuri had invited everyone to witness the “Super Blue Blood Moon” - the lunar eclipse on 31st January 2018. Six freshmen: Yash Chaurasia, Jayadev Naram, Prajwal Krishna Maitin, Tanmay Kumar Sinha, Siddharth Jain and Jainam Khakhra decided to take this idea seriously and mailed Prof. Subhadip Mitra for support/mentorship. His reply? He was waiting for someone in the college to take interest in this field.

With support from Prof. Radhika Mamidi then the SLC chair, an 8 inch Dobosonian reflector telescope was procured. The first Astronomy club event was a total Lunar eclipse viewing session on 27th July 2018 - the start of a new academic year and our club as well! Further equipments like binoculars, different eyepieces, tripods etc. were procured in the following year enhancing observational capabilities. A special mention goes to Ansh Puvvada and Shreyas Badami, who were critical in managing the club in the following years, despite the halt in the club’s expansion due to COVID.

Around this time, India’s space sector was witnessing a remarkable boom, marked by the emergence of multiple SpaceTech startups and the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. Riding this wave of enthusiasm, the club expanded its focus to include SpaceTech, leading to notable achievements in 2021 and 2024, when our teams reached the World Finals of the prestigious CanSat Competition—a miniature satellite design competition organized by the American Astronautical Society and NASA. In July 2024, the club was officially renamed as Astronautics Club, reflecting our expanded vision and aspirations.

Who can join the club? And what's the procedure?

Any IIIT student is welcome to join the club. The only prerequisite we ask for is a genuine passion for space 🌌.
Our club recruitments are held around November each year.

What kind of activities does the club organize?
We organize a mix of Astronomy and Aeronautics themed events. Some of regular activities include:
  • Stargazing sessions
  • Starparty trips at the city outskirts
  • Astrophotography nights
  • Astronomy theory sessions
  • Computational Astronomy competition like Exoplanet hunt
  • Workshops on CAD Modelling and Model Rocketry
  • Internal club projects
How can I stay updated about club events?

We maintain an active presence on social media, making it easy to stay connected with us. For instant updates, join our WhatsApp Notifier Group for astronomy events.

🚀 On LinkedIn, we run a weekly Space Stories series, covering the latest developments in Space Science and Technology.
🌌 On Instagram, dive into fun trivia quizzes and look at breathtaking astrophotography captures from our community.

What kind of projects does the club work on?

The project team was started very recently in late 2024. Prior to this, our project work primarily focused on competition-based initiatives. Currently, we are working on building our own Reflector telescope, Equitorial platform and Radio telescope.

I'm interested in learning about Astronomy and Astrophysics. Where do I start learning from?

We wrote a blog on introduction to Astronomy here.

Can I suggest new activities or projects?

Of course! We are open to any event idea or feedback. You may share your ideas with us at this link or through our social media handles.