Chandigarh, April 4 (IANS) Leading astrophysicist Jayant V. Narlikar Thursday said astronomy was quite relevant to the needs of the common man and knowledge of this science was helping save human civilization.
Making a presentation at the second national Space Conference (Theme Astronomy) under the International Space Society's (ISS) space outreach programme for schoolchildren, Narlikar said that astronomical research has shown that comet Swift Tuttle could strike earth on Aug 14, 2126 and cause devastation.
However, he added that space science can prevent the collision by causing a nuclear explosion near the comet.
Narlikar, who is internationally known for his work on cosmology, said that a big project will use space technology to bring Sun's energy to the Earth to satisfy human hunger for more and more energy.
"This energy will be capable of lighting up complete cities and towns and will be better than the solar energy being garnered today, as this is able to light up small establishments only," he said.
Nearly 1,500 school students from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh region are attending the two-day event.
