PM SHRI School Totu Selected for International Asteroid Search Campaign

Shimla, July 24: PM SHRI Government Senior Secondary School of Excellence, Totu, has been selected to participate in the International Asteroid Search Campaign (IASC) 2026, a prestigious global initiative conducted under NASA’s Citizen Science Programme.

The school is among the select institutions from Himachal Pradesh chosen for the programme, which offers students an opportunity to engage in real-world astronomical research.

Announcing the achievement during the morning assembly, Principal Dr Rashima Rana said the campaign would expose students to authentic scientific research beyond classroom learning. As part of the programme, participants will analyse real telescope images using the Astrometrica software to identify moving celestial objects, measure their positions and brightness, and submit their observations to the IASC for scientific verification. The findings may contribute to the identification of known asteroids or potential new asteroid candidates.

Dr Rana thanked the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, the Directorate of Education, the HPSES-STEM Education Cell and M/s Valeur Fabtex Private Limited, which sponsored the school’s registration, for facilitating the opportunity.

She said participation in the international campaign would help students develop scientific temperament, research aptitude, analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, teamwork and a deeper interest in astronomy and space science, marking a significant milestone for the school and its students.