Professor P
Devadas, FRAS.
A report of facts
350 mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope on Equatorial Mount
(under construction)
I first met Shri Devadas with my late father Dr PD Venkatakrishnan, MBBS, DPH, MF Hom (Lond)., in 1986, at the time of the apparition of comet Halley. It was a cloudy evening. We waited for long only to end-up viewing the take off and landing of flights at the Chennai airport, situated in the western direction of his residence. He told me to observe planet Saturn. It was in the constellation of Scorpious back then, in 1987. Indeed, planet saturn was a spectacle to observe ! Even today (in the days of space telescopes, spaceprobes, and the internet) nothing can match the beauty of planet saturn when observed through a small telescope. It is the first direct indicator of the resolving power of a small telescope !
Professor P Devadas, FRAS, the founder member of the Madras Astronomy Association who later honoured the Tamilnadu Astronomy Association as its President, was an Indian Amateur Astronomer (known throughout India), who commanded international reputation for his scientific work.
He was an avid self-made Astronomer who made telescopes, grinding glass blanks with his own hands in his backyard, who later established an engineering firm manufacturing small to medium sized telescopes for the use of the interested common man.
His equatorially mounted sturdy reflector telescopes are there in every nook and corner of this vast country. His telescopes are in Surendranagar, Gujarat as well as in Calcutta, West Bengal. From the cities of New Delhi and Chandigarh in the north, to the temple city of Madurai in the state of southern tamilnadu. Some of his telescopes are in educational institutions and colleges, industries, schools and most of them belonging to private Amateur Astronomers.
Nostalgia for me.....
I had spent many an evening and early part of the night, since 1986, observing the lunar and planetary phenomena, and even working for sometime, in the backyard workshop, grinding telescope mirrors, being instructed on the know how, by Prof. P. Devadas himself, and taking part in table work, on proof reading and analyzing lunar topographic formations. Those experiences I had, had indeed immensely enriched my mind.
Former Professor Ramakarthikeyan who was HoD, of the Mathematics department, at Swami Vivekananda College, once told an audience, that if they want to talk astronomy and do observation, they could always visit one place on Earth, in Guindy, Chennai, where the 24 hour astronomer Devadas lived ! (ofcourse, telephone first).
The British astronomer Richard McKim, FRAS, acknowledged in his mail to me, stating that he is 'glad' that I knew Prof P Devadas ! David Graham of the BAA, said in his fb comment, that the Indian astronomer Devadas was much respeced in the British Circles. That was his international reputation !
Total Solar Eclipse, Kalpi, Uttar Pradesh, 24th October 1995.
My work was to warn Prof P Devadas, as he photographed the eclipsed sun during totality directly by prime focus projection. I used another reflector telescope in which I had been observing the sun by indirect projection method. As the eclipsed sun advanced to a thin crescent, I noticed, it was cut into three parts by the jutting out of two lunar mountain peaks.
I also maintained a stop watch which showed time span of totality as 59 seconds, which tallied with the IIA measurements conducted separately there.
During the time of totality, I dared as preplanned, to observe the totally eclipsed sun directly through the telescope. I could see prominences of red fire emanating in regions around the darkened sun's limb. As time was short, I could only manage to see for a few seconds, the terrific view of nature's power and beauty.
Caution: the sun should never be viewed directly even with the unaided eye let alone dare to use a telescope or binocular.
Oh, what an awe inspiring view that was! Our lives became immensely enriched with unforgettable experiences that displayed nature's immense power, fury and beauty.
It was ecstasy but scientifically rewarding too!
Later, out team was awarded the first prize for eclipse photography by the 'All India Amateur Astronomers Meet,' held at Chennai the following year, with a cash prize of Rs.1,000/-
Total Solar Eclipse, Kalpi, Uttar Pradesh, 1995.
1st Diamond Ring
Total Solar Eclipse, Kalpi, Uttar Pradesh, 1995.
Mid Totalitity
Total Solar Eclipse, Kalpi, Uttar Pradesh, 1995.
2nd Diamond Ring
The Eclipse Telescope
The Eclipse Report.
face book post details Aug 22, 2017.
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
A total eclipse of the sun happened in the continental United States for the first time since February 6, 1979. In other words, the moon’s dark shadow didn't hit anywhere in the US or Alaska for 38 years.
The eclipse began over the Pacific Ocean at 15:46 UTC
The central line shows the track of total eclipse.
Great many fb friends living and visiting america have displayed their photos of this phenomenal scientifically rewarding natural event which has triggered my memories of the 1995 Indian eclipse. I had the good fortune of observing with a few amateur astronomers guided by Prof P Devadas, FRAS., a member of the British Astronomical Association. The eclipse was completely photographed and it also fetched us the first prize from 'All India Amateur Astronomers' meet held in Chennai city the next year. In fact, an article of this scientific expedition, was published in the 'Journal of the British Astronomical Association' by Prof Devadas.
I will try my best (in one of the future posts) to bring the photos and a small write up on the event for the benefit of all my fb friends, relatives, my good neighbors, colleagues, my teachers and students and above all, my long time astronomy enthusiasts and associates for our joy of knowing Nature at its splendorous best !!
Total Solar Eclipse Expedition, at Surendranagar, Gujarat, 1999,
with a British & two Japanese tourists who came to see the eclipse.
Total Solar Eclipse Expeditiion, at Surendranagar, 1999
Prof P Devadas, FRAS,
Sridhar
Ramalingam
Jaya Paul
(Sitting)
Satish Patil
V Anand
Sreekumar
An Expedition to the Lonar Crater, Buldana District, Maharashtra.
At the salty lake base of the Lonar Crater.
Prof P Devadas, FRAS,
Local School Headmaster
Sridhar
Murugan
V Anand
Satish Patil's Son
Satish Patil
Jaya Paul
Harry Miller's letter to Arthur C Clarke mentioning myself and Prof P Devadas
Prof P Devadas, FRAS, with other members of
Tamilnadu Astronomy Association / Tanastro (Regd. 331/1989),
at the BM Birla Planetarium attending the fortnightly members meeting.
Prof P Devadas, FRAS, with Star Party members of Tanastro.
Prof P Devadas, FRAS, with Star Party members of Tanastro.
Devadas use to send his observational work to the British Astronomical Association. He guided me in the observations of the favourable opposition of planet Mars, in 1988. Backvthen, the planet came to just 55 million kilometers distance, only three million kilometers short of its maximum nearer distance of 52 million kms. It was spectacular sight even with the unaided eyes to have seen planet Mars that bright. It was like Venus in brightness, but unlike Venus it shown in red light in the middle of the night, high above.
Devadas appreciated my Mars images showing the shrinking of the polar ice caps spanning a period of three months, indicating the advancement of summer on the planet.
Much later, we had many astronomical events that came up, including, the crash of comet shemaker-levy on planet Jupiter, total solar eclipses of the sun in Oct 24 1995 and 1999, followed by Mercury and Venus transits across the sun and many more events of astronomical importance.
FYI. "For Sir Patrick Moore's tribute page." (facebook).
The extract is self-explanatory. It is ample proof of the straight-forwardness and scientific honesty of the great British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, FRAS. The 1962 paper in BAA journal, clearly testifies the depth of knowledge and expertise gathered through telescopic observation of the lunar surface, by Prof. P. Devadas, FRAS, whose meticulous observation of the lunar surface through his telescopes and interpretations of the same, were in concordance with that of Dr Moore.
I have personally known for more than three decades, since my college days, the late Shri P Devadas, Selenologist and Observational Astronomer, Telescope Manufacturer, and Science Activist, Chennai (who was dear to Dr Moore) which I cherish till date. Of late, his daughter Mrs Komala Murugesh has been continuing to do the good work of Shri Devadas. In the interest of all aspiring astronomers, i share my private collection.
Thank you.
Regards,
Dr V Anand.
Devadas lectured with a hammering voice, and explained his scientific arguments with conviction and clarity and with an authority of experience, brought about by his life long devoted experience in observational astronomy and telescope making.
Once when i opened the main door of our chennai BM Birla Plaanetarium, i was stunned by his reverbarating voice, lecturing on the origin of craters, his passionate subject. Hs was an invited, regular speaker, of the madras Planetarium. He was in the capacity of a resource person, whom the planetarium staff of the government, could rely upon.
I found him to be an amazing man of great character, integrity, with a persistant silent perseverance, with time tested audacity and even seemingly eccentric behaviour when it came to dealing with ordinary people, who are mostly influenced and conditioned by the pseudo-science of astrology. He never showed his intellectual greatness with ordinary people. He was a down-to-earth man, his mannerisms looked enjoyably funny to most of us, his students, who were dear to him as we paid regular visits to him to learn astronomy.
To be updated further....
