Panaji, July 2 (TOI): Association of Friends of Astronomy (Goa), the state's first and only public observatory is on the verge of closing down for lack of space.

Allotted a portion of the terrace on Panaji's landmark six-storey Junta House 25 years ago, the terrace was recently termed as precarious and in desperate need of repairs by the PWD.

Apart from the terrace, the observatory functions from part of a corridor in the building, while a 25 sq m room, allotted to the association a decade ago, is used as a storeroom.

With the observatory's space threatened, the association, as a last ditch attempt, has appealed for help to the state government through the local MLA, who is also a member of the association.

It would like to have a well-equipped astronomy centre with an audio-visual room, laboratory, space gallery, but despite meeting chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar things remain bad, president emeritus and chairman of the association Percival Noronha told TOI. The 93-year-old historian started the association in 1982.

The science and technology department currently funds the association's activities with Rs 9 lakh per financial year.

"Goa is the only place in India to have rural astronomy centres and mini observatories," claimed Satish Nayak, president of the association, which runs centres at Sakhali, Morjim and Canacona.

Of the association's meeting with Panaji MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar, he said, "He was positive and has assured us that he would immediately speak to the chief minister and try and give us space for an office."

The observatory has fed many a child's curiosity of the heavens and has convinced several students to pursue astrophysics and research, including US-based astrophysicist Sharmila Kamat, Goa University professor Nandakumar Kamat, world-renowned astrophysicist Jayant Naralikar and Vital Tilvi, an astrophysicist who has discovered many a galaxy while at Nasa.