About us

Leo Planetaria ^TM founded in 2007, is part of a science popularisation consortium We are a dedicated team of Planetarians, Astronomers, Science Communicators, Science Journalists, Educators and IT Professionals. Our aim is to give easy, widespread and regular access to school students through DIGISKY ^TMto the fundamental and mother of all sciences – Astronomy, which has universal reach and appeal.

He is a Post Graduate in Physics with specialization in Astrophysics from Delhi University. He has a unique experience of over a decade of teaching Astronomy and conducting astronomy events and competitions and teacher training workshops at school level across India. He is also a member of Jhankar Educational & Welfare Society that runs a school in outskirts of Delhi.He has played a pivotal role in establishing astronomy as a regular co - curricular activity in various schools of Delhi & NCR.

Pankaj Bahmba a graduate in science from Delhi University and a hobbyist astro - photographer has played a principal role in developing indigenous astronomy material like Telescopes, Solar Eclipse Goggles, Planispheres, Celestial Maps, Sun Dials, etc. His first hand experience in optics has helped him in developing Planetarium optics that is an intrinsic part of "Digisky System".

He is a retired Indian Diplomat and a Science Communicator. He has authored number of literary works for children as well as for general public. His views and articles are regularly incorporated by the print and electronic media. He has written about 250 articles for various new papers on subjects like Positional Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology and Space Research. His most famous books includes “Vigyan Gita” and “Bhikhu, Pakhi Aur Chinku”. His latest book is "Prithivi Mera Desh Science Mera Dharm”.

He has bachelors (1994) and masters (1997) degrees in physics from the University of Delhi and over 8 years of experience as an astronomer and a science educator at the Nehru Planetarium New Delhi, India. He earned a masters degree in Space Studies (2007) at the University of North Dakota, working on model inversion of visible near infra red spectra to deduce the surface mineralogy, albedo, and size of Near Earth Asteroids 2005 AB and 1999 HF1. He is now pursuing a PhD in Geospatial Science and Engineering at SDSU with Prof. David Roy as his research advisor, funded by Prof. Mark Cochrane’s NASA biodiversity grant. His current research interests include the development of remote sensing models to characterize the physical properties of forest and grassland fires.

He went to Cambridge University, UK, on a Nehru-Chevening Scholarship for a master’s degree in physics. Subsequently he pursued research in astrophysics and cosmology at the California Institute of Technology, USA, obtaining a masters degree in astrophysics. His research has involved cutting-edge facilities including the Hubble Space Telescope and the world’s largest Keck Telescope in Hawaii. Currently he teaches physics at Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi. To popularize Astronomy, he has conducted over a hundred astronomy lectures and observation camps with various kinds of audiences in Delhi ( India), Cambridge ( UK), and California ( USA).

He is a science Journalist who is trying to create more and more space for Astronomy in Indian Television without screaming about the fake dangers to Earth and without disturbing the peaceful life of the aliens. Pioneer in making the Science Programmes for Indian News Channels. Associated with the science journalism since more than a decade. During his 10 years long association with Dainik Jagran, he became a famous Science Journalist. Moved to Television News Channels in Feb 2005 and currently working with Star News and producing Science - Tech programmes.

He did his graduation in computers from Delhi University in 1991 that was followed by Masters in Computer Applications from Gujrat University in 1994. He is a software consultant by profession. He has developed the Vendor specific positional astronomy sky simulation software based on stellarium/ nightshade that is being used by "Digisky^TM" systems across India.

He is an avid hobbyist astronomer since his college days. He did his Bachelors in Physics from Delhi University in 1992 followed by Masters in Physics with specialization in Solid State Physics from Delhi University in 1994. Worked in Textile industry for 10 years before joining Leo Planetaria. He is a passionate planetarium educator. He has a unique experience of conducting more than 200 planetarium outreach programmes (K12) in various schools across India. He has designed and devloped fabric based inflatable domes "Digidome^TM" that are being used by Digisky portable/ Mobile planetariums across India.

He is a graduate and MBA with over six years of experience in Service Industry (Insurance) and Business Network Development.He has successfully extended our sphere of planetarium outreach programmes to various schools in Assam, Jharkhand, Maharastra,Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

He is an amateur astronomer with a passion for astrophotography. He has been associated with Amateur Astronomers’ Association – Delhi since 1996. He is one of founder members of NGO - S.P.A.C.E. – Science Popularization Association of Communicators and Educators. He has played a pivotal role in making planetarium education a regular feature in many schools.

After completing her diploma in Multimedia from Arena Multimedia in year 2004, she started her career as a Graphic Designer with an Advertising Agency. Before joining Leo Planetaria, she worked with Misty Abacus and CCN (an East Delhi News Channel) as a Graphic Designer cum Junior Editor. She is well versed with various multimedia Software. She has created the web site that you are browsing right now. She has researched and worked extensively on full dome software technologies that have led to the production of various shows that are being run in Digisky^TM planetarium Systems.

After finishing his diploma in commercial art in 1994, he started his career as a freelancer artist cum illustrator. Soon he joined the print media. He has worked with "The Hindustan Times" and "Dainik Bhaskar" as an illustrator cum graphic designer. At present he is working with "Business Bhaskar" as a Sr. Illustrator cum graphic designer. As a freelancer he has produced thousands of sketches and drawings for hundreds of books including books for children like “Champak”. He has contributed sketches, drawings and animations for Hindu sky culture and various other planetarium shows being run in Digisky TM planetarium Systems.

He is retired air force personnel and settled in Bareilly. He is a part of our planetarium outreach network for western Uttar Pradesh.

He is an amateur astronomer based in Hazaribagh and has conducted star gazing camps for students in Jharkhand state. He is also actively involved with a NGO called Prerna. He is our outreach associate for the states of Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa.