Khagol Mandal Sky Show at Neral

Khagol Mandal announces 2nd Overnight programme of 2nd Season at Neral on 20 Dec. 2014. The program starts at 7.00 pm (IST) in the evening and runs up to 5.00 am (IST) next morning. The general outline of the programme is as follows: Date: Saturday 20 December 2014
Language of Instructions: ENGLISH
VENUE: Saguna Baag Farm House, Neral ENTRY by Booking ONLY For details please visit: www.khagolmandal.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/KhagolM
For bookings click:
http://www.meraevents.com/events/neral-sky-show

Tentative Schedule:

1900 to 1930 hours: Registration for the programme
1930 to 1945 hours: Introduction of Telescopes
1945 to 2030 hours: First Sky Session
2030 to 2200 hours: Observations through Telescope
2200 to 2300 hours: Dinner Break
2300 to 0100 hours: Interactive Session
0100 to 0130 hours: Tea Break
0130 to 0230 hours: Second Sky Session
0230 to 0430 hours: Observations through Telescope

These timings are tentative and may vary slightly depending on seasons and sky condition. Paraphernalia Required:
You should carry your dinner tiffin, a cup for tea, mattress / chatai for seating on open ground, sweaters, hand gloves, head scarf / muffler, Water bottle, small torch (covered with red cellophane paper).
Please note that we are not able to provide any of the above things at the site. Charges:
Rs. 250 /- per person for all participants.
Tea given during the programme is complimentary.
The charges are non-refundable, even if the programme does not take place, because of incidental heavy rains or for any other reason beyond our control.
Dinner facility is available at extra Rs. 150/- per person.
The entry to the program is STRICTLY by PRE-BOOKING. Entry is limited to about 150 people only.
Where to meet ?
Meeting point is Nirman Park Society Gate on platform no. 1 at Neral station.
Location and How to reach:
Saguna Baag Farm House, Neral (W)
The new site is around 3.5 km from Neral Station. For those coming by train, pick up facility will be available from Neral Station. Ample Car parking space available. The site is having all excellent amenities and is a theme area. For participants to Khagol Mandal Sky Program, entry will be restricted to the premises marked for Sky show. Entry to other area can be requested to the Farm House Owner and will be at extra cost. The 4.30 pm train on Karjat route from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) will take you to Neral at about 6.08 pm. This is a station next to Selu Station. Towards Platform 2 side is Matheran mountain range while on Platform 1 side is the farm house direction.

Train Timings:
CST-Khopoli: 1525 (Dep) : 1705 (Arr)
CST- Karjat: 1630 (Dep) : 1808 (Arr) All trains going to Karjat and Khopoli stop at Neral. For train timings refer to www.mumbailifeline.com

Please note that the pick facility is available from the farm house owner for the 1808 arrival train. Others can take an auto and arrive to the site.
Please note that the program ends at 4 am on Sunday morning. FAQ:
Do I need to register for this program?
Yes. It is mandatory to have a pre-booked invitation for the Special Show. Who will be the contact person at the site?
Milind Kale: 98696-10777 Is there a dinner facility on site?
Yes, at additional cost. You can book dinner while you book for the program. Is there a drinking water facility on site?
Yes. Is there a toilet facility on site?
Yes. Is there a car parking facility on site?
Yes. Is there any age restriction for the attendee?
No. Anyone can join. Is there a medical facility on site?
No. We have basic first aid kit…but if you have medical issues, then you carry your regular medicines. Are there mosquitoes on site?
No. The site is open farm house, clean and free from pollution. As such there are no mosquitoes. There might be night insects…if we put on lights. But as sky show needs no light…this is not a problem. Recommended to get Odomos or some repellant on your own. What are the restrictions on site?
Smoking and drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited. Drunk participants are assisted to railway station from where they can go home.
Due to growing nuisance and repeated complaints….all mobile devices, laptops, Tablets and all light emitting devices, cameras with flashes will have to be SWITCHED OFF during sky observation. Do I need to have a telescope or binocular to come to the programme?
No. During this overnight program you will able to see many different objects through telescopes arranged by Khagol Mandal. Some open cluster, Globular cluster, Galaxy, binary star, visible planet. We arrange our KM scopes, personal scopes and all instruments for everyone. You get in queue and see the object.
If you have your own binocular, telescope….do get those with you. How is the Sky condition on day of program?
Use the following link to view satellite images. These images are updated intervals of normally 6 hours. General thumb-rule is if more water vapor seen in image there is likelihood of cloud formation. http://www.imd.gov.in/section/satmet/dynamic/insatsector-wv.htm
Check the sky on your own…and plan your visit. What if Sky gets cloudy during program?
We wait and watch!
If sky is clouded to begin with…we wait till 2200 hrs. Then maybe pack up and get back to home.
If the last train is gone, and sky gets cloudy.....then we conduct discussion sessions. Show some slides, astro-movies and keep the show running. Uninterested people can sleep peacefully. Where do I get train timings?
Check local train timings in time table. Online time table is at www.mumbailifeline.com How to reach the programme site by Car?
For Mumbai residents Route is: Route South Mumbai -Fort- Vashi-(Navi Mumbai)-Mahape (Industrial Area)- Kalyan Shil Phata-Badalapur MIDC Road-Vangani- Neral-Neral West- Saguna Baag Route for Western suburb- up to Andheri - Jogeshwari-Powai link road-Eastern express highway- Vikhroli Mankhurd link road-Vashi-(Navi Mumbai)-Mahape (Industrial Area)- Kalyan Shil Phata-Badalapur MIDC Road-Vangani- Neral-Neral West- Saguna Baag Route for western suburb beyound Andheri- up to Malad- Arey colony road to Bhandup Sonapur junction- Airoli Flyover- Mahape(Industrial Area)-Kalyan Shil Phata-Badalapur MIDC Road-Vangani- Neral-Neral West- Saguna Baag Route for western suburb beyond Malad- Borivali-Thane link road-Kalawa-old Agra road-Mumbra- Mahape Junction-Kalyan Shil Phata-Badalapur MIDC Road-Vangani- Neral-Neral West- Saguna Baag

Any other queries / issues:
Send mail: abhay@khagolmandal.com
Call:
Milind Kale: 98696-10777
Abhay Deshpande: 902-902-9076