India to build large solar telescope

Indian Institute of Astrophysics hasproposed to build a large solar telescope to studymicrostructures on the sun at a cost of Rs 1 billion.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar onBasic Space Science in Bangalore, Director of IndianInstitute of Astrophysics S S Hasan said the largesolar telescope to be installed in the trans-Himalayanregion would be the first of its kind in Asia.

The solar telescope will be equipped with a two-metreclass lens. He said a proposal in the regard will besent by Indian Institute of Astrophysics to theFederal Government shortly. “The telescope will bebuilt in five years after the Government clears theproposal”, he said.

Earlier inaugurating the seminar, space scientist KKasturirangan said space sciences were growing inimportance in India for its use in communication andtimely information, be it climate, disastermanagement, health, natural resources or environment.

Kasturirangan, who is also the Director of NationalInstitute of Advanced Studies, said the year 2007would be celebrated as the International HeliophysicalYear (IHY) and hoped the IHY would witness increasedinternational scientific co-operation.

Hans Haubold of The United Nations Office for OuterSpace Affairs said the UN Committee for Peaceful Useof Outer Space was committed to use of space as anatural resource for non-military uses. He saiddeveloping countries in particular had much to gainfrom “low-cost, ground-based instrument arrays andresearch programmes.”

N Gopalaswamy of NASA said there was no greaterinterest in setting up space observatories indeveloping countries and collaboration in spaceprogrammes between developing countries and developedcountries.