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ABOUT HANLEThe Indian Astronomical Observatory, the high-altitude station of IIA is situated at an altitude of 4500 metres above mean sea level to the north of Western Himalayas. Atop Mt. Saraswati in the vast Nilamkhul Plain in the Hanle Valley of Changthang, Ladakh (4250m above msl), the site is a dry, cold desert with sparse human population and the ancient Hanle monastery as its nearest neighbour. The cloudless skies and low atmospheric water vapour make it one of the best sites in the world for optical, infrared, sub-millimetre, and millimetre wavelengths. A 2-m optical infrared telescope is installed at the observatory. This telescope is remotely operated from CREST, Hosakote, using dedicated satellite links. In addition, IIA is collaborating with University of Washington, St. Louis, in operating a 0.5-m photometry telescope for continuous monitoring of Active Galactic Nuclei. This telescope will be one of the pair of telescopes constituting Antipodal Transient Observatory. A 0.3-m Differential Image Motion Monitor, a 220-GHz radiometer and an Automated Weather Station have been installed to facilitate continuation of site characterisation. The infrastructure developed by IIA at IAO, Hanle, has paved way towards initiating many new projects in astronomy as well as other paradigms of science. One such example is the study of Geodynamic Deformation Field undertaken jointly by IIA and CMMACS, Bangalore. The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq Abdullah inaugurated the satellite communication link on Mt. Saraswati, Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle on June 2, 2001 The 2m telescope was dedicated to the nation on 29 August 2001 . |
ABOUT HANLE