1. Indian Astronomical Observatory
Hanle-Ladakh (J&K)
The 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. A 2-m optical and infrared Himalayan Chandra Telescope is installed at the observatory an an altitude of 4500m above seal level. This telescope is remotely operated from CREST, Hosakote, using a dedicated satellite links and being used by Indian astronomers since 2001 Observatory also host 0.5m robotic telescope for monitoring transient objects as well as a Gamma ray telescope to study AGN’s pulsars, and host of astrophysical sources.
2-M Himalayan Chandra Optical & Infrared Telescope (HCT) at Trans Himalayan Region at an altitude of 15000ft
A view of IAO
The Site
Latitude 32d46m46s N
Longitude 78d57m51s E
Altitude meters above msl
Seismicity Low
Wind Speed Median 2.2 m/s (8 kmph) at night
Wind Direction Prevailing south-south-easterly
Precipitable water vapour < 2 mm between October and April
Number of spectroscopic nights ~ 260 per year
Number of photometric nights ~ 190 per year
Median seeing < 1 arcsec
Remote Operation of HCT
Specification of HCT
Aperture metres
Mirror Material ULE
Optics Ritchey-Chretien
Mount Altitude over azimuth
Focus provision for Nasmyth
F-ratio f/1.75 primary; f/9 Cassegrain
Image Scale arcsec/mm
Field of View arcmin; 30arcmin with corrector
Image quality % power < 0.33 arcsec dia
Pointing accuracy < 1.5 arcsec for > 10 deg move
Himalayan Chandra Telescope
Images taken by HCT
Comet ISON
HCT Instruments: HFOSC and NIRCam and recently added TIRSPEC
II Block, Koramangala, Bangalore , INDIA