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The name Astara Ganesha stands for Astronomy Nusantara Ganesha, representing the event’s core purpose—promoting astronomy across Indonesia, starting from ITB’s iconic campus on Jalan Ganehsa. “Astronomy is still relatively unfamiliar to many people in Indonesia. Through Astara Ganesha, we want to make astronomy more recognized and relatable to everyday life,” Yuan explained.

This year’s theme, “Living in Space,” aligns with the official World Space Week theme and encourages discussions on the possibilities of living beyond Earth in the future. Various seminars and exhibitions explore how technological advancements and scientific research may enable humans to sustain life in outer space.

The two-day event features a main seminar, an exhibition of creative works, and several hands-on activities. One of the main highlights and an innovation for this year is the mini planetarium, offering an immersive experience that simulates the night sky. Each session accommodates around 15 visitors and presents star projections along with guided explanations by facilitators. Attendees also have the opportunity to observe the Sun through telescopes placed outside the venue.

Prior to the main event, Astara Ganesha hosted several competitions, including astrophotography, article writing, poster and infographic design, and an Astronomy Olympiad. The enthusiasm was remarkable, with more than 300 participants registering from across Indonesia. The organizing committee targets over 2,000 visitors during the main event.

Astara Ganesha collaborates with numerous astronomy communities such as Astrada, Langit Selatan, Observatorium Bosscha, Ditara, and IAC. The event is deliberately designed to be inclusive and open to all age groups. “Astara Ganesha welcomes everyone—children, students, and the general public. We want people to experience astronomy firsthand,” Yuan said.

Yuan hopes the event will make astronomy more familiar and appreciated in Indonesia. “Astronomy is part of our daily lives. People see the Sun, Moon, and stars every day, but only a few understand what lies beyond. We want astronomy to become a normal and well-understood subject in society,” she concluded.