First “Durbin Exhibition” at IUB showcases celestial wonders

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted the first "Durbin Exhibition" on October 31 as part of "Astronomy Night 8", organised by Durbin IUB, the Bangladesh chapter of the international astronomy outreach programme Dur Bishwer Nagorik (Durbin).

Held in collaboration with the Computational & Observational Astronomy Lab (COALab) at IUB and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, the exhibition displayed an impressive collection of 37 astronomical images, capturing celestial wonders from the solar system and beyond.

The images, arranged according to their distance from Earth, spanned from a proximity of 90 million kilometres to a distance of 60 million light-years, offering attendees a visual journey across the cosmos. Over the past 18 months, more than 100 images were captured by Durbin's national volunteers. The exhibition represented the best of these images, exemplifying the outreach programme's mission to make astronomy accessible to the public.

The exhibition's top five images received awards from M Arshad Momen, PhD, a professor of Physical Sciences and Director of Graduate Studies, Research, and Industrial Relations at IUB. The first prize went to Md Shahadat Hossain Shahal, a Computer Science and Engineering major at IUB, who is also pursuing a minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The event marked the successful use of two Equinox Interstellar Telescopes, the most advanced deep space imaging equipment in Bangladesh, gifted to IUB by the Dunlap Institute in 2023. Through its academic offerings, including Bangladesh's only minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics, and collaborations with international institutions, IUB aims to advance the pursuit of astronomy studies and research in the country.