Astronomy in Pakistan

Pakistan doesn't have a huge astronomy scene. The largest working telescope in Pakistan is a 16-inch telescope. There are only a handful of Pakistanis (in Pakistan or abroad) who are professional astronomers. However, just like every where else, there is interest in astronomy at the public level. Below I have tried to provide information about astronomy in Pakistan to the best of my knowledge. Please send me an e-mail if you think the information isn't correct or if you want to add any thing to this page.

Amateur Astronomy Groups

These are the ones that I am aware of:

 Lahore:
LAST (Lahore Astronomical Society): Based in Lahore, it regularly organizes popular astronomy lectures, meteor-showers and eclipse viewings, star parties etc. The members of LAST have access to good telescopes and also have an active mailing-list.

Karachi:
AMASTROPAK (The Amateurs Astronomical Society of Pakistan): This was the first amateur astronomical society in Pakistan and is primarily based in Karachi. It has organized symposia on a wide range of astronomical topics from Mars Pathfinder to Supernovae and has held open-houses for public viewing through their telescopes. Its mailing list is located here.

Website hosted by an Amateur astronomer, Dr, Muhammad Akbar Hussain Siddiqui: He has designed and built his own telescopes.

Islamabad:
Quaid-e-Azam University Astronomy Club:  This is based in Islamabad. I do not have much information about their activities.
 
 

Astronomy is not the focus of the following two groups, but is definitely one of their themes:

Khwarzimic Science Society  : This is also based in Lahore and they have been very active in organizing science-related lectures and seminars. They also publish a regular magazine.

Buraq  : This group organizes annual space camp for students in Pakistan and from nearby ECO countries, like Uzbekistan.
 
 

Other Govenrment/Non-Government Groups

SUPARCO  (Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission): Its sub-division SPARCENT  has, in the past, participated in astronomy related activities.

Pakistan Science Foundation

PIA Planetarium in Karachi
 
 
 

Professional Astronomers from Pakistan (the ones that I know...I apologize in advance if I have left anyone)

There are currently five active astronomers from Pakistan:

Shaukat Goderya  (Tarleton State University): Research interests -- Eclipsing binary stars, Automated classifications of galaxies using artificial neural networks.

Suhail Zaki Farooqui (Naval Engineering College in Pakistan): Research interests -- Numerical simulations of the formation and clustering of Dwarf Galaxies.

Babar Ali  (IPAC/Caltech): Research interests -- Infrared astronomy, Star formation, Brown dwarfs

Salman Hameed  (Hampshire College/Umass): Research interests -- Star formation in spiral galaxies, interacting galaxies, HII regions

Basmah Riaz (Graduate student at University of Delaware)
 
 
 

(Please send comments/updates to shameed@hampshire.edu .  Page last updated: 4/14/03)