Indian Astronomical Observatory: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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{{Short description|Astronomy station in Hanle, India}}

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[[File:Hanle observatory.jpg|thumb|Hanle Observatory ]]

The '''Indian Astronomical Observatory''' ('''IAO)''') is a high-altitude astronomy station located in [[Hanle (village)|Hanle]], India and operated by the [[Indian Institute of Astrophysics]]. Situated in the Western Himalayas at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,764&nbsp;ft), the IAO is one of the world's highest located sites for [[optical telescope|optical]], [[infrared telescope|infrared]] and [[gamma-ray telescope]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle |url=https://www.iiap.res.in/?q=iao_about |website=Indian Institute of Astrophysics |access-date=13 November 2022 |date=20 November 2020}}</ref> It is currently the tenth (see [[List of highest astronomical observatories]]) highest optical telescope in the world. It is India's first [[dark-sky preserve]].<ref name=res1>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/all-you-need-to-know-about-india-s-first-dark-sky-reserve-in-ladakh-122090900591_1.html All you need to know about India's first dark sky reserve in Ladakh], Business Standard, Karthik Jerome, 9 September 2022.</ref>

==Location==

The Indian Astronomical Observatory stands on Mt. Saraswati, Digpa-ratsa Ri, [[Hanle (village)|Hanle]] in the south-eastern [[Ladakh]] union territory of India.<ref name="CurrSci">News{{Cite journal |date=2000-12-25 |title=The first light at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, [Hanle, Ladakh |url=https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/79/12/1635.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Current Science |volume=79 |issue=12 |pages=1635–1636 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607124302/https://wwwops.currentscience.ac.in/php/toc.php?vol=079&issue=12 Dec 25, 2000, Vol. 79 No. 12 Current Science], Indian Academy of Sciences|archive-date=2023-06-07}}</ref> Accessing the observatory, located near the Chinese border ([[Line of Actual Control]]), requires a 250 &nbsp;km long [[India-China Border Roads|ten-hour drive]] from [[Leh]] city, the headquarter of Leh district.<ref name="natgeo"/> [[Nyoma]], 75 &nbsp;km northwest from Hanle, has an Indian military airbase.<ref name=lac1>{{Cite web |url = http://tibet.net/2016/05/eye-on-india-china-raises-tibet-military-command-rank/ |title = Eye on India, China raises Tibet military command rank {{!}} Central Tibetan Administration |website = tibet.net |access-date = 2016-10-01 |archive-date = 7 November 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161107071553/http://tibet.net/2016/05/eye-on-india-china-raises-tibet-military-command-rank/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==History==

In the late 1980s, a committee chaired by Prof. [[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|Prof. Arvind Bhatnagar]]. The scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics found the site at Hanle.<ref>Rajan, Mohan Sundara. "Telescopes in India". National Book Trust, India, 2009, p. 132</ref>

The [[First light (astronomy)|first light]] was seen by the Observatory 2-metre telescope on the midnight hour between 26 September and 27 September 2000.<ref name="CurrSci" />

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|Dr. Farooq Abdullah]] on 2 June 2001. The Observatory was dedicated to the nation on 29 August 2001.<ref>About IAO, IAO website. http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_about accessed on 20 January 2011.</ref>

==Observation: Dark-sky preserve and astrotourism ==▼

{{anchor | Astrotourism }}

{{see also | International Dark-Sky Association | l1= International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) }}

===Hanle Dark-sky preserve===

[[File:IAO-Hanle-high energy gamma -ray telescope-UnderRainbowAtNight.jpg|thumb|HighHanle's Energyhigh Gammaenergy Raygamma-ray Telescopetelescopes (HAGAR),at Hanlenight]]▼

In September 2022, itthe area surrounding Hanle became India's first [[dark-sky preserve]].<ref name="res1">{{Cite web |last=Jerome |first=Karthik |date=2022-09-09 |title=All you need to know about India's first dark sky reserve in Ladakh |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/all-you-need-to-know-about-india-s-first-dark-sky-reserve-in-ladakh-122090900591_1.html |website=Business Standard}}</ref> The Hanle site is deemed to be excellent for visible, infrared and [[submillimeter astronomy|submillimeter]] observations throughout the year.<ref name="natgeo" /> Specifically the observation conditions yield about 255 spectroscopic nights per year, approximately 190 photometric nights per year and an annual rain plus snow precipitation of less than 10&nbsp;cm. In addition, there are low ambient temperatures, low humidity, low concentration of atmospheric aerosols, low atmospheric water vapour, dark nights and low pollution.<ref name="CurrSci" /> The preserve extends to the 6 hamlets of Hanle revenue village - Bhok, Dhado, Punguk, Khuldo, Naga and Tibetan Refugee habitation within 1073 sq km [[Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Changtang#India|Changthang plateau]]. North, south, east and west four extremities of the preserve are between a distance of 19.6&nbsp;km to 22&nbsp;km from the observatory.<ref name=bhp1>[https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/262528-hanle-indias-first-dark-sky-reserve-located-changthang-plateau-ladakh.html Hanle India's first dark sky reserve], accessed 5 June 2023.</ref>▼

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’.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Godiyal |first1=S. |last2=Khurana |first2=M. |date= |title=MACE Telescope: Light of Night Sky at Hanle |url=https://barc.gov.in/barc_nl/2022/2022070816.pdf |journal=BARC Newsletter |issue=July-August 2022 |pages=72–76}}</ref> 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.<ref name=prih1>[https://theprint.in/the-fineprint/indias-new-tourism-boom-is-in-the-sky-uttarakhand-to-andamans-stargazing-on-the-rise/1611317/ India’s new tourism boom is in the sky. Uttarakhand to Andamans, stargazing on the rise], The Print, 5 June 2023.</ref>

To avoid [[altitude sickness]], tourists must acclimatize for a day or two at Hanle (at 4500 m elevation) or Leh.<ref name=prih1/>

===Astrotourism===

{{anchor | Astrotourism }}

{{Split section|Astrotourism in India |discuss={{TALKPAGENAME}}#Split proposal |date=May 2024}}

There are many astrotourism locations in India ranging from Ladakh, [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[South India]] to [[Andaman Nicobar Islands]]. Among these Uttarakhand has the highest number of public and private night sky observatories, such as [[Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences]] (ARIES) in Devasthal in [[Nainital district]]. The Uttrakhand government is also setting up observatories at [[Abbott Mount]]<!-- Retain the red link to encourage article creation. --> in [[Champawat district]], [[Pithoragarh]], [[Kausani]], [[Sang, Uttarakhand|Jadhang]] (or Jadung, under the [[India–China border infrastructure#VIP|Vibrant Villages programme]]), and [[Takula]]<!-- Retain the red link to encourage article creation. --> (in Nainital). In Uttarakhand, a startup named Starscapes also has private astrotourism observatories at [[Bhimtal]], [[Kausani]], and astrovillage [[Benital]]<!-- Retain the red link to encourage article creation. --> in [[Chamoli district]].<ref name=prih1/>

There are more than [[List of planetariums#India|100 planetariums in India]]. [[Nehru Planetarium]] is based in five locations at [[Mumbai]], [[New Delhi]], [[Pune]] and [[Bangalore]] and [[Jawahar Planetarium|Prayagraj]]. The [[Kalpana Chawla]] Planetarium in [[Jyotisar]] in [[Kurukshetra]] in [[Haryana]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web|author=<!--Updated 1136 hrs 3 February 2010(+)--> |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/planetarium-in-kalpana-chawlas-memory/36993-11.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927102422/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/planetarium-in-kalpana-chawlas-memory/36993-11.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2009 |title=IBN News |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=3 February 2010 |access-date=10 December 2010}}</ref>

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 [[Pangong range|Pangong]] in Ladakh. In [[Karnataka]], the ''Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers'' (ABAA) meets every Sunday at [[Nehru Planetarium|Banglore Nehru Planetarium]] and ''Bangalore Astronomical Society'' (BAS) organizers regular astro tours to the outskirts of cities and to remote locations in India. ''Starvoirs'', a [[Chennai]]-based startup, owns private observatories in nine places across the country, including [[Rameshwaram]], [[Chidambaram]], [[Kodanad]], the [[Andaman Islands]], and [[Nagaland]].<ref name=prih1/>

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, [[Madikeri]] in [[Coorg]] is surrounded by coffee plantations and natural forests and rates 3 (rural sky) on the Bortle scale. Just as [[Project Tiger]] has immensely helped the conservation of tigers, their surrounding ecology, and reduction of carbon footprints,{{cn|date=May 2024}} the issue of conservation of dark skies could help conservation of ecology and nocturnal animals, but there is very low awareness of this in India.{{cn|date=May 2024}} The designation of dark sky preserve by the [[International Dark-Sky Association]] (IDA) is a 3-year process, which involves identifying dark sky areas, preparing a development and conservation plan, and submitting a proposal to IDA for the designation. There is no nationwide plan to systematically develop more dark sky areas with the mandatory lighting restrictions. <ref name=prih1/>

▲==Observation: Dark-sky preserve ==

▲In September 2022, it became India's first [[dark-sky preserve]].<ref name=res1/> The Hanle site is deemed to be excellent for visible, infrared and [[submillimeter astronomy|submillimeter]] observations throughout the year.<ref name="natgeo" /> Specifically the observation conditions yield about 255 spectroscopic nights per year, approximately 190 photometric nights per year and an annual rain plus snow precipitation of less than 10&nbsp;cm. In addition, there are low ambient temperatures, low humidity, low concentration of atmospheric aerosols, low atmospheric water vapour, dark nights and low pollution.<ref name="CurrSci" />

==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), and . 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 [[S. Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyam Chandrasekhar]].<ref name="natgeo">Pallava Bagla (7 January 2002) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20020111063101/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/12/1227_020104indiaobs.html India Unveils World's Highest Observatory]", National Geographic News, Retrieved 21 January 2011</ref> It contains a modified [[Ritchey–Chrétien telescope|Ritchey-Chretien]] system with a primary mirror made of ULE ceramic which is designed to withstand low temperatures it experiences.<ref name="frontline" /> The telescope was manufactured by Electo-Optical System Technologies Inc. at Tucson, Arizona, USA. The telescope is mounted with 3 science instruments called Himalaya Faint Object Spectrograph (HFOSC), the near-IR imager and the optical CCD imager.<ref name="natgeo" /><ref>IAO Telescope http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_telescope Accessed on 21 January 2011</ref> The telescope is remotely operated via an [[INSAT-3B]] satellite link which allows operation even in sub-zero temperatures in winter.<ref name="frontline">Ravi Sharma (Volume 18 - Issue 20, 29 Sep - 12 Oct 2001), {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20041207040103/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1820/18200840.htm "A stellar acquisition"]}}, ''Frontline''; Retrieved on 25 January 2011</ref>

▲[[File:IAO-Hanle-high energy gamma ray telescope-UnderRainbow.jpg|thumb|High Energy Gamma Ray Telescope (HAGAR), Hanle]]

=== GROWTH-India Telescope ===

The GROWTH-India telescope is a 0.7 meter wide-field optical telescope that had first light in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GROWTH-India - FirstGallery Light!|url=https://sites.google.com/view/growthindia/first-lightgallery |access-date=20202024-1005-0725 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It is the country's first fully robotic research telescope.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Dinesh C. |date=2018-07-03 |title=India's firstFirst roboticRobotic telescopeTelescope opensOpens itsIts eyesEyes to the universeUniverse |url=https://wwwthewire.thehindubusinessline.comin/news/sciencethe-sciences/indias-first-robotic-telescope-opens-its-eyes-to-the-universe/article24209626.ece |access-date=20202024-1005-0725 |website=@businesslineThe Wire |language=en}}</ref> It was set up as a part of the international GROWTH program,<ref>{{Cite web|title=GROWTH Observatories|url=http://growth.caltech.edu/observatories.html|access-date=2020-10-07|website=growth.caltech.edu}}</ref> and has been widely used for time domain astronomy. The telescope is operated jointly by [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay|IIT Bombay]] and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

===Punjabi University, Patiala (Punjab) 24-inch Cassegrain telescope Observatory===

{{Split section|Punjabi University 24-inch telescope|discuss={{TALKPAGENAME}}#Split proposal|date=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|date=September 2023}}

===IIA-Washington University Cassegrain telescope===

Since 2011, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) collaborateshas collaborated with the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences of [[Washington University]] in [[St. Louis]] in USA to operate two 0.5 meters-meter [[Cassegrain telescope]]s to monitor [[active galactic nuclei]]. One of the observatories is established in Hanle.<ref name="natgeo" /> The facilities 180 degrees apart in [[longitude]] are together to be called the Antipodal Transient Observatory (ATO).<ref>Antipodal Transient Observatory. http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_ato {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052648/http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_ato |date=8 November 2016 }} Accessed on 20 January 2011</ref>

===High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope===

[[File:IAO-Hanle-high energy gamma ray telescope-UnderRainbow.jpg|thumb|High Altitude GAmma Ray Telescope (HAGAR), Hanle]]The High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope (HAGAR) is an atmospheric Cerenkov experiment with 7 telescopes setupset up at Hanle in 2008.<ref>Staff Reporter (13 December 2009) [https://web.archive.org/web/20091216163514/http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/13/stories/2009121357060600.htm "Plan to establish Indian Neutrino observatory"], The Hindu, Retrieved on 21 January 2011</ref> Each telescope has 7 mirrors with a total area of 4.4 square meters. The telescopes are deployed on the periphery of a circle of radius 50 meters with one telescope at the center. Each telescope has alt-azimuth mounting.<ref>Hagar Telescope http://www.iiap.res.in/iao_hagar Accessed on 21 January 2011</ref> A Himalayan [[Gamma Ray]] Observatory (HiGRO) was set up at Hanle in collaboration with [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]], [[Mumbai]] and [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]], Mumbai.

[[Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment Telescope]] (MACE) was set up here in December 2012.<ref name=MACE>{{cite news|last=Sunderarajan|first=P|title=Gamma ray telescope getting ready at Hanle|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article2112390.ece|access-date=17 June 2011|newspaper=The Hindu|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> The Experiment has a 21-meter collector which can collect gamma rays from space.<ref name=MACE /> The facility is a result of initiative led by [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] in collaboration with [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]], [[Indian Institute of Astrophysics]], [[Bangalore]] and [[Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics]] [[Kolkata]]. The facility cost in 2011 was [[Rupee|Rs]]. 400&nbsp;million.<ref name=MACE /> As of 2011, it was the first and only such facility in the [[eastern hemisphere]].<ref name=MACE /> The telescope was fabricated by the [[Electronics Corporation of India]] and was installed at the IAO in June 2014.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/MACE-telescope-ready-to-be-shifted-to-Hanle-Ladakh-from-Hyderabad/articleshow/37126715.cms MACE telescope ready to be shifted to Hanle, Ladakh from Hyderabad | Hyderabad News - Times of India<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This Telescopetelescope became the second -largest gamma -ray telescope in the world and the world's largest telescope at the highest altitude.

===Center for Research and Education in Science and Technology===

The Center for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST) is situated 35&nbsp;km to the northeast of Bangalore near Hoskote town. The Center houses the control room for the remote operations of the 2m2-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.<ref>CREST http://www.iiap.res.in/centers/crest Accessed on 21 January 2011</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of astronomical observatories]]

* [[National Large Solar Telescope]]

5 Major Astronomical Observatories in India

; Research

* [[List of academic and research institutes in Ladakh]]<!--NOTE: Retain redlink, article has been submitted for approval.-->

* [[Bharati (research station)]]

* [[Dakshin Gangotri]] First Indian station 1983, converted to support base

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* [[Research stations in Antarctica#List of research stations|List of Antarctic research stations]]

* [[List of highest astronomical observatories]]

* [[Sindhu Central University]]

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