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PIONEERING A NEW FUTURE 19
For stellar imaging observations in the optical
and NIR bands, ARIES operates a 1.04-meter Sampurnanand optical telescope at Manora Peak
and a 1.3-meter optical telescope at Devasthal producing several notable contributions towards frontline areas in astronomy and astrophysics. Recently, India's largest 3.6-meter diameter Devasthal optical telescope (DOT) of ARIES has also started functioning as a national facility with the capability of deep imaging, as well as spectroscopic observations.
A 4-meter aperture International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) in collaborations with Belgium and Canada is expected to become operational soon at Devasthal. The ILMT will scan the zenith sky every night. The survey with the ILMT will be mainly dedicated to photometric and astrometric variability studies of several celestial objects.
ARIES also promotes collaborative research programmes using observations taken at other wavelengths like X-ray, ultra-violet, and radio. ARIES is developing a user community for the existing facilities, such as Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Inter-University Center for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA) and Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) maintained observational facilities.
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
The atmospheric science division at ARIES carries out research on air pollution and climate change. The division specializes in observations of trace gases, including ozone and greenhouse gases, aerosols, meteorology and dynamics.
Observational Facilities: One of the major facilities of the atmospheric sciences division called ARIES Stratosphere Troposphere (ST) radar facility has also become operational. In future, a collocated setup of the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) will provide essential information on the horizontal extent of the atmosphere. ARIES is one of the important background mountain stations for trace gases and aerosols\observations, under the ISRO network. To further enhance its capabilities, it is required to initiate observations of the key reactive species (for example, NO, NO2, HCHO, HNO3)
GOALS
• To build and operate state-of-the- art observational facilities to carry out frontline research in the areas of astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric sciences.
• To establish a strong synergy between all the observational facilities at ARIES and other national and international ground-based facilities and space programmes.
• To probe and understand the celestial phenomena in astrophysical terms.
• To engage in active PhD and master’s training programmes.
• To provide access to advanced observational instruments at ARIES to students and researchers to impart scientific knowledge to the young generation.
• To make accessible the expertise and lab facilities to other institutes and universities.
• Maintain India’s largest 3.6m diameter telescope at Devasthal as a world- class national observing facility.
Panaromic view of the 588 Yagi antennae as a part of the ST radar facility at Manora Peak, Nainital
• Keep up meter-class optical telescopes for imaging and spectroscopic exploration.
• Continue atmospheric science studies and ST (Stratosphere- Troposphere) radar facility, a scientifically productive modern national facility.
3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) dome and the extension building