Time and space as said by the great English theoretical physicist and cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking are finite in extent, but they don’t have any boundaries or edges. Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another and to confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit, therefore it has always been the advice of the late physicist to ‘Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.’

Visakha Vidyalaya Astronomical Society (VVAS) being one of the most active school astronomical societies in Sri Lanka took initiatives to motivate the young Astronomy enthusiasts and to develop their knowledge by organizing the Astronomical Day of 2018 ‘Firmamento '18 - Silhouetting the Horizon’ on the 12th of March 2018 at the Jeramias Dias Hall of Visakha Vidyalaya along with the aid of the Old Visakhians’ Astronomical Society.

Firmamento '18 commenced on the theme of ‘Time Travelling’ and discussed the theories which have been explored till now by renowned scientists and the limitless possibilities which can be discovered based on the statements made on time travelling by the greatest Theoretical Physicist ever lived, where Albert Einstein states that the ‘distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion’ which can be conquered through physics and cosmic explorations. The astronomical day enlightened the young astronomical enthusiasts about both fictional and theoretical mysteries of time travelling such as time dilation and modern physics paradoxes.

The Astronomical Day of Visakha Vidyalaya was graced with the presence of Dr. Gayan Illeperuma the Lecturer in Physics of the Department of Physics at the Open University of Sri Lanka as the Chief Guest and a host of veterans in the Astronomical Field such as Mr.Janaka Adassuriya – Scientist of Arthur C. Clerk Institute at Moratuwa, Mr.S.M Banduseela a Translator of world famous astronomical fiction, Mr.Malinda Alahakoon, Mr.J.K. Sooriyaarachchi and the CEO of live physics community Mr.Sanjeewa Dharmawardhana attended the event as Guests of Honour. Well wishers and an immense support was put forth by CINEC campus to make the event a success.

The event presented the Jeremias Dias Challenge Trophy of the Annual Astronomical Quiz Competition and Intra School competitions were held between the astronomy interested students of Visakha Vidyalaya while Inter school quiz competitions took place between more than 25 Schools island wide which included Royal College, Ananda College, Nalanda College, Anula Vidayalaya who were invited to participate. The day’s competition came to its grand finale with the Team A of Nalanda College and Team A of De Mazenod College succeeding to top the competition. The two schools battled for the championship and after a great competition Nalanda College Astronomical team was able to win the Jeremias Dias Challenge Trophy of 2018.