Experienced Amateur Astronomers Gather for Star Party in Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
Experienced Amateur Astronomers Gather for Star Party in Hanle Dark Sky Reserve - OPP.Today The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) recently organized the first official star party for experienced amateur astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, India. The event was organized to observe the beauty of the untouched skies free from light pollution and capture faint celestial objects that are usually not visible in other locations. Participants were thrilled with the experience, which highlights the importance of preserving dark skies for astronomical research and the growing interest in amateur astronomy in India.
Được phát hành : 2 năm trước qua Allan Ellis trong Science
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) recently organized the first official star party for experienced amateur astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh. Hanle, home to the IIA’s Indian Astronomical Observatory, is known for its dark skies and dry weather, making it an ideal location for astronomical observation.
Around 30 amateur astronomers traveled to Hanle from different parts of India, bringing along their telescopes and cameras. The main purpose of the star party was to experience the beauty of the untouched skies free from light pollution and to capture faint celestial objects that are usually not visible in other locations.
Hanle has one of the darkest skies in India, and the area of radius roughly 22 km around Hanle has been designated as the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR). The reserve aims to control man-made light pollution in order to preserve the pristine dark skies for astronomical research.
During the star party, participants had the opportunity to observe gas clouds and galaxies with a level of detail that is not possible in light-polluted towns and cities. Despite the challenges of the high altitude, cold weather, and lack of oxygen, the participants were thrilled with the experience.
Sudhash Natarajan from the Bangalore Astronomical Society, who attended the star party, shared his excitement about being able to see obscure faint galaxies in the Bortle-1 (darkest) sky of Hanle. He acknowledged the difficulties of the environment but considered the effort to be worth it.
Overall, the star party at Hanle Dark Sky Reserve was a unique opportunity for amateur astronomers to indulge in their passion for stargazing and astrophotography in an environment free from light pollution. The success of the event highlights the importance of preserving dark skies for astronomical research and the growing interest in amateur astronomy in India.
Definitions:
– Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR): Designated area around Hanle with minimal light pollution to preserve pristine dark skies for astronomical research.
– Bortle Scale: A scale for measuring the darkness of the night sky, with Bortle-1 being the darkest and Bortle-9 being heavily light-polluted.