In news– In a unique and first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India, has undertaken to set up India’s first-ever “Night Sky Sanctuary(Dark Sky Reserve)” in Ladakh.
About the sanctuary/reserve-
- The proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It will boost Astro tourism in India and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.
- In this regard a tripartite agreement was signed between officials of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) , the Ladakh Union Territory administration and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
- Once declared as the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR), it will be an area spanning 22 km in radius centred around the Hanle observatory.
- It may be noted that Hanle is best suited for the project as it is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region, away from any form of human disturbance and clear sky conditions and dry weather conditions exist throughout the year,
- At a height of 4,500 metres, Hanle is already home to an optical, a gamma ray and an infrared telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory complex operated by the IIA.
- These telescopes have been used to study stars, galaxies, exoplanets and the evolution of our Universe.
Source: PIB
