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Devsthal telescope ready to snap
India has already developed a world class observing facilities at radio wavelengths (GMRT) and currently developing space based observing facilities at X-ray and ultra-violet wavelengths (ASTROSAT and TAUVEX). The 3.6 m Optical Telescope will further enhance spectroscopic observations from Devasthal.
India has already developed a world class observing facilities at radio wavelengths (GMRT) and currently developing space based observing facilities at X-ray and ultra-violet wavelengths (ASTROSAT and TAUVEX). The 3.6 m Optical Telescope will further enhance spectroscopic observations from Devasthal.
NAINITAL: Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) completed the setting up of Asia's largest 'general purpose' optical telescope in Devasthal, 60 km from Nainital. Scientists told TOI the mechanical, electrical and optical procedures for setting up the telescopehad been completed and it is now being tested. The telescope will be fully operational in six months - it has already started taking test pictures of stars and planets.
"This is a great achievement for India's astronomical community. The telescope will be useful for further research and study of astronomical events, with greater efficiency and accuracy," said Wahab Uddin, acting director of ARIES.
Devsthal, 2,500 metres above sea level, was chosen as the 'perfect spot' for this telescope because of ideal humidity (below 60%), transparency and absence of light pollution, project manager Birjesh Kumar said.
"There should be no city light at any such telescopic site because they hinder the view of astronomical events in the sky," Kumar said. "With this telescope, we can look forward to some big events in the astronomical history of India," he said, with pride. He explained that the mirror of the 3.6-metre diameter optical telescope had been entirely 'coated' by scientists and technicians of ARIES at the coating facility here that only became operational in January 2015.
"The aluminium coating of the mirror of this telescope is the most vital aspect as the accuracy should be in nanometres. The clarity and area of observation increases in the proportion of diameter, hence more accuracy," said Kumar.
Any telescope undergoes three phases before becoming fully operational - assembly, integration and verification. The ARIES telescope has completed the first two phases; the verification process is in full swing. Sample pictures are being taken by the telescope to complete the last phase.
Many other Indian firms like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune and Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru also contributed to the Rs 150 crore project.
The coating plant, enclosure and structure of the telescope were designed and manufactured in India; the lens was imported from Belgium, from where a team of technicians and engineers is assisting in the process of setting up the instrument. The 'general purpose' optical telescope has diameter of 3.6 metres and weighs 150 tonnes. It will aid in the study of starts, planets, magnetic fields and astronomical debris once it becomes functional in six months.
The site of the temple is near an ancient Lord Shiva temple. The 10-storey building which houses the telescope is specifically designed and equipped with air and temperature control for smooth function of the telescope. ARIES had already installed a telescope of 1.3-metre diameter in the building in 2010. The facility also has four special cranes to help in moving the telescope, which can only be rotated a few millimetres each second.
ARIES started as the Uttar Pradesh State Observatory ( UPSO) on April 20, 1954. It is credited with discovering the rings around Uranus in 1984. It was the first ever observatory in India to record the optical afterglow of Gamma ray bursts. ARIES is located uniquely, and there is no facility to match it between the Canary Islands and Eastern Australia, making it possible for it to make crucial observations that are impossible from elsewhere.
A 'general purpose' optical telescope also exists in Kavalur village of Tamil Nadu, installed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. In 'general purpose' telescopes, observations of astronomical events can be made by moving them while in 'specific purpose' telescopes observations depend on the planetary movement of the earth. The largest specific purpose telescope in Asia is in China, with a diameter of 4 metres.
Source:- Devsthal telescope ready to snap - The Times of India
". But on Christmas, whole media jumps up and down about Greatness of Jesus and new shopping trees and what not. No depressing messages. Now, u understand the idea. 
