tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-963141568977592022024-02-08T04:30:32.909-08:00Telescopes of India TourPradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-72973912024323562372009-05-21T23:02:00.000-07:002009-05-21T23:04:32.226-07:00The Tour plan rehashedIt has been a very long time since I last updated this blog and I should have been more regular I guess. Well, part of the good news is that the Tour is still on. <br /><br />The original tour was planned so that I go to all these places in one go. This turned out to be somewhat cumbersome. Partly because different places have different times when they're available for visitors. The weather also is different in different places and the Tour would either have been really difficult or a breeze accordingly. So, rather than choose and select the timing in a slot of 1 to 2 months, I thought it would be much better to do it over a longer time frame. This also lets me break up my tour in such a way that I extend it all the way upto the Astrosat launch early next year. It would be a great opportunity for me to watch that launch if not from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre then from a place nearby where I can get a good view.<br /><br />I have also finalised a good outline for the way things will pan out before, during and after a visit. The updates will, ofcourse depend on Internet connectivity etc but this is the rough outline.<br /><br />Before the Trip:<br />1. A pointer to the website, instructions on how to go there and whom to contact.<br />2. Plans, who I am going to meet and accept reader questions<br />3. Point to the Wikipedia page and a look at the content there.<br /><br />During the Trip:<br />1. Photos will be posted to Picasa Web, slideshow will be inserted in the blog where you can view them.<br />2. Videos will be posted to YouTube. I will try to transcribe the videos into text after I get back from the trip, for those who don't have speeds that support videos.<br />3. Blog updates, if possible.<br />4. Updates during the trip to my personal twitter account (when I get connectivity and if possible).<br /><br />After the Trip:<br />1. Photos and videos that could not be uploaded will be uploaded.<br />2. Will try and make a Google Map on the Observatory along with instructions on getting there and navigation, if any.<br />3. Will update the Wikipedia entry.<br /><br />In addition to all of the above, I would love to talk to anyone who would like to share my experiences in person and also want to learn more about observatories in India. Please spread the word and inform everyone interested in astronomy or space on this unique tour to the Astronomical Observatories of India. Stay tuned the first leg of the Telescopes of India tour is coming very soon.Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-53343111296045668272009-01-02T06:05:00.000-08:002009-01-02T06:07:05.681-08:00The Observatories on the TourWishing one and all a Happy New Year. In the coming year, 2009, we will be going on a tour of some of the observatories in India. The trip can, perhaps be best described as a pilgrimage to the Holy places of astronomy in the country, with a connection to the heavens! I like how that snugly fits the description. So, without much ado, here is the list of observatories I plan on visiting, subject to their approval:<br /><br />1. Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle<br />2. ARIES, Nainital<br />3. DU Observatory<br />4. Mt. Abu Observatory<br />5. Girawali Observatory<br />6. GMRT, Narayangaon<br />7. Osmania Univ Observatory, Hyderabad<br />8. CREST, Bangalore<br />9. Ooty Observatory<br />10.Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur<br />11. Kodaikanal Observatory<br /><br />In addition to going there physically and adding pictures and videos, I would also like to take the oppertunity to adding information related to all these observatories on various online sources - Wikimapia and Wikipedia. The entries on Wikipedia especially are deplorable. Updates on this blog will also include these efforts.<br /><br />In addition, throughout the year, it would be lovely to interact with the many amateur astronomy clubs that dot India. From January 4 - 15 I will be travelling through Hyderabad, Vellore, Trichy and Thiruvanathapuram. If you happen to have an astronomy club on this route please inform me and I'll try to make it to your place during my journeys. These might be a good way to spend the nights! <br /><br /><br />Hopefully, by the end of 2009, I would have covered a fair cross section of the astronomy community in India.Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-89644171024808140482008-09-07T05:55:00.000-07:002008-09-07T06:08:59.764-07:00Maps of Indian observatoriesPerhaps, the second step. I have started putting all the observatories onto one single Google map. Right now, you might be able to view Hanle and Kodaikanal on the Map given below:<br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111667626004541460427.0004564d98b1e924c909b&ll=10.23,77.468667&spn=0.030019,0.054245&t=p&output=embed&s=AARTsJrr1VPm1HDTZiT9CI2sHAlMMgaFAQ" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="COLOR: #0000ff; TEXT-ALIGN: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111667626004541460427.0004564d98b1e924c909b&ll=10.23,77.468667&spn=0.030019,0.054245&t=p&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />You can catch the updates as they happen on the map by subscribing to the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111667626004541460427.0004564d98b1e924c909b&output=georss">RSS feed for this map</a> or <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111667626004541460427.0004564d98b1e924c909b&output=nl">view it in Google Earth</a>. I think this is more fun to watch the updates than a <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p56pG11Xsd2l62Nh41IUUUQ">plain old spread sheet</a> (<a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p56pG11Xsd2l62Nh41IUUUQ&hl=en#">RSS feed for spreadsheet</a>). But, it's your pick.Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-56420389163578886742008-09-05T23:47:00.000-07:002008-09-05T23:54:56.597-07:00Details on Visit to HanleI just saw this in my inbox. Vikrant (from <a href="http://www.space-india.org">SPACE</a>) had in his email to me referred to Tushar Prabhu from IIAp. So, it was great to see his email in my inbox. I think this gives you some idea of what it takes to go to the <a href="http://www.iiap.res.in/centers/iao">world's highest observatory at Hanle</a> -<br /><br /><blockquote>Sep-Oct is a nice time to visit when the minimum temperature would be between 0 and 5 C. Weather would be fine, though there is a small chance of light rain<br />or snow.<br /><br />You will need to reach Leh and acclimatize yourself: full bed rest on<br />the first day and minimal activity on the second. You can proceed to<br />Hanle on the third, or better fourth day. It takes 7-8 hours<br />(effectively full day) to travel to Hanle from Leh. We have vehicles<br />plying once in a few days. You will thus need to make travel plans with<br />8-10 days available between Leh-Hanle-Leh.</blockquote><br /><br />He's also been kind enough to offer me to make arrangements for my stay and travel between Leh and Hanle. I think this might be a great way to start - from the highest observatory in the world!Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-247596318212308302008-09-05T20:38:00.000-07:002008-09-05T20:46:22.546-07:00ToIt Spreadsheet additionsToIt expands as Telescopes of India tour.<br /><br />Anyway, I got a couple of observatories from Ajay Talwar. You can see the <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p56pG11Xsd2l62Nh41IUUUQ">updated spreadsheet here</a>.<br /><ul><li>Sampuranand Telescope, ARIES, Nainital.</li><li>Mt. Abu Observatory, Gurushikhar.</li></ul>He also told me about a telescope at DU and his own 20" Dobsonian Mobile telescope. Reference to an old British-era observatory at Thiruvananthapuram was also made.<br /><br />Thanks for the links Ajay! I don't know whether the telescope @ DU qualifies because I'm looking at telescopes of the observatory kind. I know there are many amateurs all over the country with beautiful telescopes but I'm not sure how I'd go to every place with a telescope. Perhaps, that's for another tour - The Amateur Telescopes of India tour?Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-81716247983295622452008-09-04T23:42:00.000-07:002008-09-04T23:45:45.592-07:00Observatories of India - Google Docs SpreadsheetI have been putting together a list of the Observatories in India. I have managed to find about 8 of them including one ancient. These are the ones with their own website, which make them searchable on the Internet. I believe there are many more.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Want to help?</span> This is the <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p56pG11Xsd2l62Nh41IUUUQ">current list of observatories</a> that I know of. If you know of any other observatory, please do let me know via email, or leave a comment here.Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-52980551314483104202008-09-04T17:03:00.000-07:002008-09-04T20:57:43.830-07:00Telescopes of India Tour - ResponsesFirst of all, I'd like to clarify that this tour is now being backed by <a href="http://sedsindia.blogspot.com">SEDS India</a>. It's an organisation that I have been leading for the past 4 years now and we're under the process of registeration.<br /><br />Now that, that's out of the way, I have been getting quite a response to my yesterday's blog post and emails to several mailing lists that I have been on -<br /><ul><br /> <li>Manoj Pai from <a title="CIAA website" href="http://www.ciaa.net" target="_self">Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers (CIAA)</a> wrote in with some words of advice. I really appreciate that.</li><br /> <li>I got a reply from Halit and Bijal from <a title="SGAC website" href="http://www.spacegeneration.org" target="_self">Space Generation Advisory Council</a> asking for any help in communicating with IYA teams.</li><br /> <li> Svetlana Shkolyarfrom the 4Frontiers Corporation wrote to me. They've developed packaged tours for <a title="4Frontiers Corp Tour PAckages" href="http://www.4frontierscorp.com/areasoffocus/tourgrouppackages.php" target="_self">visiting space centres in the US</a>. On the page, they've also mentioned about doing something similar in India, with ISRO. They've offered to do something similar in the US. It's an exciting prospect and I will definitely give it a thought.</li><br /> <li>Vikrant Narang from <a title="SPACE India" href="www.space-india.org" target="_self">SPACE</a> wrote in to me and has offered to give me a helping hand in organising trips in North India. Thanks, I'll get in touch with you if I need any help!</li><br /> <li>I've also got emails from Kalam Nagappan, whom I met during IAC and Rajdilwar about joining me on this trip.</li><br /> <li>Rashmi Bansal editior of the <a title="JAM magazine" href="http://www.jammag.com" target="_self">student mag JAM</a> also wrote in. Turns out her dad works for ISRO! Cool!</li><br /> <li>Update: I've also got an offer from <a title="Planetary Society India blog" href="http://planetarysocietyindia.blogspot.com" target="_self">Planetary Society, India</a> for free accomodation <span dir="ltr">and visit to observatoryin Andhra Pradesh and </span>facilitation of accomodation if more number of people with the help of Government of Andhra Pradesh.</li><br /></ul><br />Thanks for your emails guys.I will reply to you individually as soon as I can. Also, if you're planning to do something similar in your country, please do write in to me using the contact form.Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96314156897759202.post-17910374095770044552008-09-03T17:37:00.000-07:002008-09-04T20:59:12.191-07:00Telescopes of India tour - an introductionNext year is the <a title="IYA 2009 website" href="http://www.astronomy2009.org" target="_self">International Year of Astronomy</a>. I hope to make a small contribution towards this by going on a "Telescopes of India" tour. I plan to go around the country and visit the various radio and optical observatories in the country.<br /><br />What will I do there? First, learn about what they are doing there and why. Second, talk to the people behind the observatory to learn more about their work. Lastly, I want to enjoy as much as I can.<br /><br />Right now, the trip is in the planning stages. The only thing that is certain right now is that I am going. As a first stage I plan to make a spreadsheet of all the Indian observatories and a map of these locations.<br /><br />Want to help? If you are part of any observatory in the country, please do write to me with the details using <a title="Contact me" href="http://pradx.wordpress.com/contact/" target="_self">my contact form</a>. If you would like to send any words of caution, suggestions or advice, please do leave them in my comments. I also encourage you to do something similar in your country.Pradeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872010643091552317noreply@blogger.com0