Students of IIT-Hyderabad at the launch of an advanced darksky observatory for multidisciplinary research at the institute’s Kandi campus in Sangareddy district on Tuesday. , Photo credits: MoHD. Arif
The Department of Physics at IIT-Hyderabad has set up the Advanced Darksky Observatory (ADO) for multi-disciplinary research as part of the National Science Day celebrations.
ADO will host a 0.5-meter robotic optical telescope (the largest in the small telescope categories), with a magnification of ~1000x, the ability to resolve structures as small as 25 km on the Moon’s surface, Saturn’s distinct rings, active Detection of galaxies up to a distance of 1.5 Giga light-years (1,419 billion km).
Designed primarily as a leading research facility in astronomy with adaptive imaging and multi-filter spectroscopy, will provide imaging and spectroscopic data banks that are expected to serve as valuable assets for research and modern teaching .
Space scientist and former chairman of ISRO K. Radhakrishnan inaugurating the Advanced DarkSky Observatory at IIT-Hyderabad on Tuesday. , Photo credit: MoHD. Arif
Due to its robotic capabilities, the observatory will be able to be integrated into global telescope network systems such as NASA’s Global Telescope Network for immediate alerts to scientific communities on transient celestial events, asteroids and meteoroids. It will also complement ISRO’s current and future space-based astronomical observatories.
Honorary Special Adviser in the Department of Space and former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said: “If all the engineering science capabilities of this institute are put together to create a new breed of instruments for space exploration, you will be a major contributor.”
IISER-Kolkata director Prashant K. Panigrahi also delivered a lecture on ‘Emergence of Quantum Science and Technology in the 21st Century’.