19th Young Astronomer Talent Search Launched in Odisha with Focus on Gaganyaan Mission

Bhubaneswar: The 19th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) was launched today at Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, by Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister of Science & Technology Department, Government of Odisha. Organised by Tata Steel in association with Pathani Samanta Planetarium under the Science & Technology Department, the initiative continues its mission of nurturing scientific curiosity among school students.

The theme for this year, “Stargazer Today, Gagannaut Tomorrow”, has been aligned with India’s ambitious Gaganyaan project, which will showcase the country’s human spaceflight capability. The programme offers students of classes 6 to 10 a unique platform to explore astronomy, space science, and astrophysics while celebrating the legacy of legendary Odia astronomer Pathani Samanta.

Speaking on the occasion, Patra said, “The next edition of YATS is launched today, and the theme for this year is ‘Stargazer Today, Gagannaut Tomorrow.’ Competitions will be held at school and district levels, and the winners will participate in the grand finale at Pathani Samanta Planetarium on December 13. Thirty students from across the state will also get the extraordinary opportunity to visit ISRO’s Bengaluru facility and interact with scientists.”

The launch event was attended by Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department and In-Charge Principal Secretary, Science & Technology Department, along with senior officials including Sibani Mohanty, Puja Mishra, Bidyut Prabha Rout, Urmiprava Maharana, Chinmayee Chetana Das, and Shri Debasish Jena, Chief Resident Executive, Tata Steel.

Students can participate either through their schools or by registering online on the YATS portal. The competitions will include an open quiz for classes 6–8 and a multiple-choice question (MCQ) test for classes 9–10. District-level winners will compete in the grand finale on December 13, 2025, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Pathani Samanta.

Over the last 18 years, YATS has reached more than 4.71 lakh students across Odisha, with 230 winners visiting various ISRO centres to witness India’s strides in space research. Earlier this year, winners of the 18th edition visited ISRO’s ISTRAC and U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.

With its latest edition, YATS continues to inspire the next generation of young astronomers and future space scientists, encouraging them to dream big as India takes significant leaps in space exploration.