Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)
Prelims:
Science & Technology
Mains:
GS Paper III-Science & Technology
Current relevance:
The 2-m
Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) at Hanle, Ladakh completed 25 years of
successful operations, marked by a conference showcasing its history,
scientific achievements, engineering milestones, and future expansion plans.
Highlights:
Historical
background:
1.
The idea of
establishing an optical telescope in the trans-Himalayan region had been a
long-standing aspiration of the Indian astronomical community.
2. The 2-m Himalayan Chandra Telescope achieved
its First Light on 2000, located at Hanle, Ladakh.
3. Operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics
(IIA), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology
(DST).
4. The telescope was named Himalayan Chandra
Telescope (HCT) in honour of Nobel Laureate Subramanyan Chandrasekhar.
Unique Features:
1.
Operated
remotely in real time from the IIA campus at Hosakote, Bengaluru,
through a dedicated INSAT-3B satellite link since June 2001.
2.
It is equipped
with three scientific instruments, the HFOSC for optical imaging and
spectroscopy, uTIRSPEC for near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging, and HESP,
a high-resolution Echelle spectrograph for detailed spectroscopic observations.
Major Research Contributions:
1.
Planetary
Science: HCT has been used for
spectroscopy of comets, studies of exoplanet atmospheres, and participated in
the discovery of the TRAPPIST-1b exoplanet.
2.
Stellar
Astrophysics: It has supported
research on nebulae, star-forming regions, young stellar objects, variable
stars, binary systems, and chemically peculiar stars.
3.
Transient
Astronomy: HCT has contributed to
the study of novae, supernovae, and their expanding shells.
4. Extragalactic Astronomy: It has enabled research on galaxies, lensed
quasars, interacting galaxies, and active galactic nuclei.
Source: PIB - https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2291141®=48&lang=2