India's new telescopes are set to be a game-changer for astronomy, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• The Indian government has approved the establishment of two new telescopes in Ladakh: the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) and the National Large Optical-Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT).
• The NLST, a 2-meter aperture solar telescope, will be located in Merak near Pangong Tso lake and will study the sun in visible and near-infrared wavelengths.
• The NLOT, a 13.7-meter aperture segmented-mirror telescope, will be built in Hanle and will operate in the optical-infrared wavelengths.
• The existing 2-meter Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Ladakh will be upgraded with a 3.7-meter segmented primary mirror.

Detailed Insights:

• The NLST will be India’s third ground-based solar observatory, complementing the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory and the Udaipur Solar Observatory, and will reinforce India's leadership in heliophysics alongside Aditya-L1.
• The NLOT will be one of the world’s largest telescopes in the optical-infrared wavelengths, enabling frontier research on exoplanets, stellar and galactic evolution, and supernovae due to Ladakh's high altitude and clear skies.
• The upgraded HCT will complement international facilities like LIGO-India and the Square Kilometre Array, enhancing India's capabilities in transient astronomy and gravitational wave observation.
• These telescopes will provide Indian scientists with a major advantage in astronomical observations, generating unique data and offering preferential observation time compared to existing global telescopes.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Electromagnetic Spectrum: The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves.
• Diffraction: The bending of waves (e.g., light) as they pass around an obstacle or through a narrow opening.
• Exoplanets: Planets that orbit a star outside our solar system.