Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Coordinates: 14°16′47″N 77°10′48″E / 14.27972°N 77.18000°E / 14.27972; 77.18000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
Bengaluru
,
Karnataka
,
India
CampusUrban
Websitewww.iiap.res.in
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore main campus

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), with its headquarters in Bengaluru, is an autonomous research institute wholly funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. IIA conducts research primarily in the areas of astronomy, astrophysics and related fields.

The institute has a network of laboratories and observatories in India, including

Hosakote
.

IIA contributed to

Astrosat, India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory.[2] The Astrosat project is a collaborative effort of many different research institutions from India.[3] The institute led the development of Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT).[4]

Areas of research

Researchers at IIA work on a diverse set of topics related to Astronomy and Astrophysics. However, the research can be broadly classified under the following areas:

History

Madras), India.[5][6]
The main aim of the observatory, according to Petrie, was

"to provide navigational assistance to the company ships and help determine the longitudes by observing the eclipses of Moon and satellites of Jupiter".[7]

In 1790, this private observatory was taken over by the East India Company, with Michael Topping (1747–96) as an astronomer. In 1792, the observatory was expanded and shifted to a complex in Nungambakkam area of Chennai. This was the first modern observatory outside Europe.[6]

As early as 1881, Mr. Blanford, then Meteorological Reporter to the government of India, recommended "the improvement of the work of solar observations in order to obtain accurate measures of the sun’s heating power at the earth’s surface and its periodic variations".

spectrography of the sun and the stars using a twenty-inch telescope
, which could be at a hill station in South India.

On 20 July 1893 following a famine in Madras Presidency, which underscored the need for a study of the sun to better understand monsoon patterns, a meeting of the

U.K. Secretary of State, Indian Observatories Committee, chaired by Lord Kelvin, decided to establish a solar physics observatory at Kodaikanal, based on its southern, dust free, high altitude location. Michie Smith was selected to be superintendent. Starting in 1895 there was a rapid transfer of work and equipment from the Madras Observatory
to Kodaikanal and the observatory was founded on 1 April 1899. Later this Kodaikanal solar observatory become the foundation of modern Indian institute of Astrophysics.

In 1968 a new field observatory was started at Kavalur for stellar spectroscopy and photometry. Expansion of activities and interests have led to the formation of the new optics, Electronics and data analysis centre at Bengaluru and the setting up at Gauri Bidanur of a large low frequency array for studies of galactic and extragalactic structure. In 1971, the former Astrophysical Observatory was converted to an autonomous research Institute wholly financed by the Government of India, and to be known henceforth as the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Presently, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics functions under the control of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.[9]

Academics

The Institute awards two types of degrees.

Notable faculty

See also

References

  1. ^ "Director's Page | Indian Institute of Astrophysics". Iiap.res.in. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  2. ^ "PSLV Successfully Launches India's Multi Wavelength Space Observatory ASTROSAT – ISRO". isro.gov.in. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. S2CID 125449392
    .
  4. S2CID 125449392
    .
  5. S2CID 118535689
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-93-5118-928-2
    .
  7. ISBN 978-81-317-5375-0
    .
  8. ^ MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. MAY, 1906 [verification needed]
  9. ^ "Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore | Department of Science & Technology". dst.gov.in. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  10. ^ "PhD Programme | Indian Institute of Astrophysics". iiap.res.in. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Integrated MTech- PhD (Tech.) | Indian Institute of Astrophysics". iiap.res.in. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  12. ^ Rohini Godbole (editor), Ram Ramaswamy (editor) (31 October 2008). Lilavati's Daughters: The Women Scientists of India. pp. 163–165, 359.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

14°16′47″N 77°10′48″E / 14.27972°N 77.18000°E / 14.27972; 77.18000

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