Every so often, a message arrives that reminds us what citizen science looks like from the other side of the screen. Not from a dashboard or a dataset, but from someone who has just discovered the thrill of contributing to real research.

In this series, we’re sharing a few of those messages from volunteers around the world. You can also read about Daisy Obwaso’s work-experience story from Kenya in our previous post.


Adhrit Raj is 9 years old and lives in India. He wrote to us about taking part in an astronomy project – and discovering what it feels like to hunt for asteroids.

Hello!

My name is Adhrit Raj, I am 9 years old and stay in India. On Zooniverse, my username is agzi_005.

I started the IASC Asteroid Search Campaign a few days ago, but it already feels like one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done! I love space, superheroes, and mysteries, so when I found out I could help look for asteroids, I couldn’t wait to start.

I also want to mention Mr. Sovan Acharya, who introduced me to this project. I’m very thankful to him for telling me about this project. On my first day, I didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as I opened the data sets and saw the blinking images, I got super excited. I learned how to look for a tiny dot that moves differently from the stars. When I noticed my first possible moving object, I felt so proud – like I had discovered a secret in space.

Since then, I’ve been wanting to do more and more. Even when my mother tells me to take a break, I don’t want to stop! I keep saying, “Just one more set!” because every new set feels like a new adventure. I didn’t think I would enjoy it this much, but now I can’t put my phone or laptop down.

I know I’m still learning, and I’ve only just begun, but it feels amazing to be part of something real that scientists use. It makes me feel like a true “asteroid hunter,” even though I’m only 9.

My dream is to become a scientist one day, and I think this is the first step on that journey. I’m so happy I found this project, and I hope many more kids like me try it too.

Thank you Zooniverse and IASC for helping me start this amazing adventure!

Warm Regards,

Adhrit Raj (agzi_005)

Adhrit Raj, a young Zooniverse volunteer from India

Stories like Adhrit’s show that you can step into science long before anyone calls you a scientist. Sometimes it starts with one blinking image and the decision to try another set.

If you’d like to get in touch, we’re always happy to hear from you at contact@zooniverse.org

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