Asia’s biggest 3.6-m Devasthal optical telescope under Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital was technically activated jointly by PM Narendra Modi and the PM of Belgium, Charles Michel, remotely from Brussels while the Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harshvardhan was present at Devasthal.
The 3.6 meter telescope was established by ARIES, Nainital with a total project cost of about Rs 150 crore. ARIES had started wrk on establishing a large four-meter class optical telescope at Devasthal in 2006 to further strengthen India’s capabilities in astronomy and provide a powerful instrument to the Indian and international astronomical community. A 3.6- meter diameter optical new technology telescope was found to be technically and logistically feasible for Devasthal peak. Considering the global importance of this telescope, the Belgian government decided to participate in this project, and financed seven-percent of its total cost. The total weight of the telescope is nearly 150 tonnes with the telescope mirror being polished in Moscow, Russia in about 22 months of time. This telescope will be used for carrying out fundamental research on origin of galaxies, life-cycles of stars, probing powerful and elusive black holes, and solving many mysteries of the cosmos. Its near infrared capability will allow astronomers to probe very first stars and galaxies of the Universe.
