NIT-Srinagar to open campus observatory with 14-inch telescope

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar is set to become the first NIT in the country to have a dedicated campus-based observatory equipped with a 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, officials said on Monday (September 21, 2026).

The telescope provides aberration-free, flat-field images for astrophotography and planetary observation, the officials said. The NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA) will be inaugurated on Tuesday (September 22, 2026), marking a milestone in science education and research, they said.

“The facility will bring advanced observational astronomy to the campus and create a new platform for students, researchers and the wider community to engage directly with the night sky,” an NIT-Srinagar spokesperson said.

The centrepiece of the observatory is a 14-inch Celestron C14 EdgeHD Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, equipped with a computerised equatorial mount and supported by specialised astronomical imaging equipment, he said.

The system includes planetary and cooled deep-sky cameras, luminance, red, green and blue (LRGB) filters, a 2.5x Barlow lens and high-speed imaging capabilities, allowing observations ranging from the Moon and planets to nebulae, star clusters and distant galaxies, the spokesperson said. The facility will give students access to observational astronomy and astronomical imaging facilities, he added.

The observatory is being developed with scientific guidance and collaboration involving the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, one of the country’s leading institutions dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics, he said.

Dr. Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, Scientist F and head of the Science Communication, Public Outreach and Education (SCOPE) Section at the IIA, is associated with the initiative as an adviser and collaborator, the spokesperson said. His expertise in astronomy education and public outreach adds an important dimension to the observatory’s vision, he said.

Prince Ahmad Ganai, Professor and Head of the Department of Physics at NIT-Srinagar, who is leading the project, said the observatory was an effort to bring the excitement of observing and exploring the universe closer to students.

“Our aim is to create a space where students can move beyond theoretical learning and engage directly with astronomical observations, data and scientific inquiry,” he said. He hoped NSOAA would inspire curiosity, encourage research and help develop a stronger culture of astronomy and astrophysics in Jammu and Kashmir.

Beyond being a telescope facility, NSOAA is envisioned as a centre for experiential science education, astrophotography, observational projects, student training and astronomy outreach, Professor Ganai added. He said the observatory would let students move from learning astronomy from books and simulations to acquiring and analysing astronomical data.

Professor Ganai said the observatory’s impact could extend beyond the campus, and that it could become a regional hub connecting schools, colleges, universities and science enthusiasts across Jammu and Kashmir with modern astronomy. Regular sky-observation programmes, student workshops, teacher-training activities and public viewing sessions could help bring astronomy closer to young learners and encourage them to pursue physics, space science and astrophysics, he said.

NIT-Srinagar is considering starting a hands-on course on astronomy and astrophysics in the coming months, in which special sessions will be allotted to schools, colleges and universities in the Kashmir Valley as part of its outreach programme, Professor Ganai said.

The facility also places NIT-Srinagar among a relatively small number of Indian technical institutions with substantial campus-based astronomical observatories, the spokesperson said. He cited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, which operates a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain observatory with charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging and remote-operation capabilities.

Published – September 21, 2026 05:43 pm IST