Indian Astronomical Observatory
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The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is a high-altitude astronomy station located in
Location
The Indian Astronomical Observatory stands on Mt. Saraswati, Digpa-ratsa Ri,
History
In the late 1980s, a committee chaired by B. V. Sreekantan recommended that a national, large optical telescope be taken up as a priority project. The search for the site of the observatory was taken up in 1992 under the leadership of Arvind Bhatnagar. The scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics found the site at Hanle.[6]
The first light was seen by the Observatory 2-metre telescope on the midnight hour between 26 September and 27 September 2000.[3]
The satellite link between the Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST), Bangalore, and Hanle was inaugurated by the then Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on 2 June 2001. The Observatory was dedicated to the nation on 29 August 2001.[7]
Dark-sky preserve and astrotourism
Hanle Dark-sky preserve
In September 2022, the area surrounding Hanle became India's first
The darkness of the night sky is classified on the Bortle scale from 1 ("excellent", i.e., extremely dark) to 9 ("Inner-city sky", i.e., partially dark). Hanle is categorised as an excellent dark astronomical site with Bortle colour key ‘Black’.[9] The dark sky is important for the conservation of nocturnal animals and ecology. To minimize light pollution and to ensure dark skies, Hanle preserve has many restrictions such as lights being indoors only in certain places, mandatory light-blocking curtains on windows and doors, street light colors limited to yellow, no high beam headlights on vehicles, no vehicle movements at night, and more.[10]
To avoid altitude sickness, tourists must acclimatize for a day or two at Hanle (at 4500 m elevation) or Leh.[10]
Astrotourism
It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled Astrotourism in India. (Discuss) (May 2024) |
There are many astrotourism locations in India ranging from Ladakh,
There are more than 100 planetariums in India. Nehru Planetarium is based in five locations at Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Bangalore and Prayagraj. The Kalpana Chawla Planetarium in Jyotisar in Kurukshetra in Haryana.[11]
In 2023, India had more than 15 private observatories for astrotourism that came up in the last five years, many of which have their observatories in multiple locations. Astrostays, a startup, organises astrotourism trips to
The astrotourism potential in India is underutilised and underdeveloped. There are numerous places in India that could be developed, designated and preserved as the dark sky preserves. For example,
Facilities
The Observatory has several active telescopes. These are the 2.01 meter optical-infrared Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT), GROWTH-India telescope, Cassegrain telescope, and a High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope (HAGAR). The HCT is remotely operated from Bangalore from the Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST) using a dedicated satellite link.
Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)
The Himalayan Chandra Telescope is a 2.01 meters (6.5 feet) diameter optical-infrared telescope named after India-born Nobel laureate
GROWTH-India Telescope
The GROWTH-India telescope is a 0.7 meter wide-field optical telescope that had first light in 2018.
Punjabi University, Patiala (Punjab) 24-inch Cassegrain telescope Observatory
It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled Punjabi University 24-inch telescope. (Discuss) (May 2024) |
In the 1980s, a 24-inch Cassegrain telescope was installed at a 90-foot height in a huge dome on the observatory in the Punjabi University, Patiala campus. The Department of Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala is the only department in northern India with this unique facility.[citation needed]
IIA-Washington University Cassegrain telescope
Since 2011, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has collaborated with the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences of
High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope
Center for Research and Education in Science and Technology
The Center for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST) is situated 35 km to the northeast of Bangalore near Hoskote town. The Center houses the control room for the remote operations of the 2-m Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle, and the HCT data archive. The operations are controlled using a remote satellite link.[22]
See also
- Research
- Bharati (research station)
- Dakshin Gangotri First Indian station 1983, converted to support base
- Maitri Second Indian station 1989
- Defence Research and Development Organisation
- Defence Institute of High Altitude Research
- Indian Antarctic Program
- Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
- Siachen Base Camp (India)
- List of Antarctic field camps
- List of Antarctic research stations
- List of highest astronomical observatories
- Sindhu Central University
- Borders
- Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), India-Pakistan border across Siachen region
- Line of Actual Control (LAC), India-China border across Ladakh
- Line of Control (LoC), India-Pakistan border across Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir
- Conflicts
- Geography
- Geology of the Himalaya
- Indus-Yarlung suture zone
- List of districts of Ladakh
- Tourism and infrastructure
- India-China Border Roads
- Siachen Base Camp (India)
- Tourism in Ladakh
- Pre-independence
References
- ^ "Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle". Indian Institute of Astrophysics. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b Jerome, Karthik (9 September 2022). "All you need to know about India's first dark sky reserve in Ladakh". Business Standard.
- ^ a b c "The first light at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle, Ladakh" (PDF). Current Science. 79 (12): 1635–1636. 25 December 2000. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Pallava Bagla (7 January 2002) "India Unveils World's Highest Observatory", National Geographic News, Retrieved 21 January 2011
- ^ "Eye on India, China raises Tibet military command rank | Central Tibetan Administration". tibet.net. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Rajan, Mohan Sundara. "Telescopes in India". National Book Trust, India, 2009, p. 132
- ^ About IAO, IAO website. http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_about accessed on 20 January 2011.
- ^ Hanle India's first dark sky reserve, accessed 5 June 2023.
- ^ Godiyal, S.; Khurana, M. "MACE Telescope: Light of Night Sky at Hanle" (PDF). BARC Newsletter (July-August 2022): 72–76.
- ^ a b c d e India’s new tourism boom is in the sky. Uttarakhand to Andamans, stargazing on the rise, The Print, 5 June 2023.
- ^ "IBN News". Ibnlive.in.com. 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ a b Ravi Sharma (Volume 18 - Issue 20, 29 Sep - 12 Oct 2001), "A stellar acquisition"[usurped], Frontline; Retrieved on 25 January 2011
- ^ IAO Telescope http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_telescope Accessed on 21 January 2011
- ^ "GROWTH-India - Gallery". sites.google.com. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Sharma, Dinesh C. (3 July 2018). "India's First Robotic Telescope Opens Its Eyes to the Universe". The Wire. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "GROWTH Observatories". growth.caltech.edu. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ Antipodal Transient Observatory. http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_ato Archived 8 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on 20 January 2011
- ^ Staff Reporter (13 December 2009) "Plan to establish Indian Neutrino observatory", The Hindu, Retrieved on 21 January 2011
- ^ Hagar Telescope http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_hagar Accessed on 21 January 2011
- ^ a b c d Sunderarajan, P (17 June 2011). "Gamma ray telescope getting ready at Hanle". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ MACE telescope ready to be shifted to Hanle, Ladakh from Hyderabad | Hyderabad News - Times of India
- ^ CREST http://www.iiap.res.in/centers/crest Accessed on 21 January 2011