The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has announced the development of a high resolution solar telescope at its Founder’s day celebration on Monday.

Speaking at a founder’s day lecture, the director of IIA, Prof. Shiraj Hassan informed about the recent concept of solar telescopic. IIA will collaborate with couple of other institutes for this particular project – University centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune and Aryabhatta Research Institute of observational sciences in Nainital. 

The project report of the 2-metre diameter solar telescope has been prepared and soon the work is expected to commence.

Prof Hasan further added saying initially, the budget for the project was set at $35.6 million and the deadline set for it is 2013. Three spots have already been identified for the installation of the telescope – one in Nainital and two in Ladakh.

Lamenting on the low quality research in India, Prof CNR Rao didn’t forget to compare Indian universities with foreign universities like Harvard and Oxford. He further emphasized  the need of quality research which he believes can only be brought from the rural talent pool.  X

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