Exchange of information and coordination among astronomers and astrophysicists is essential for understanding the mysteries of space. Latest techniques and facilities also need to be developed for research.These views were expressed in the inaugural session of the second Belgo-Indian Network for Astronomy and Astrophysics (BINA) workshop in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday.
In a telephonic conversation, one of the Indian representatives attending the workshop, scientist Santosh Joshi from Nainital-based Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) said that observations made through telescopes in India and Belgium were discussed in detail in the workshop.
In addition to this, aspects like the birth and death of stars, expansion of galaxies, internal constitution of stars, search for planets similar to earth and various other unanswered questions related to space were deliberated upon in detail on the first day of the workshop. The director of Royal Observatory of Belgium-hosting the workshop-Ronald Van der Linden and various other astronomers, astrophysicists and others concerned expressed their views on the occasion.
BINA is a network fostering collaboration between Belgian and Indian institutes to stimulate research on the solar system, galactic and extragalactic celestial objects based on observations with the 3.6 metre Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT), the 4 metre International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT), and other telescopes of interest.
The first BINA workshop was held in Nainital during November 2016 with the aim to establish close interactions between Indian and Belgian astrophysicists and to discuss about the first-and second-generation instruments for these new Indo-Belgian telescopes.
The focus of the workshop in Brussels is on instrumentation of the Indo-Belgian telescopes-the role of these 4-m class telescopes on the international astronomical scene once they are equipped with adequate instruments. Instruments presently functioning, how they are functioning and instruments currently being developed are also being focused upon in the event.
The workshop also focuses on data and science with the Indo-Belgian telescopes including aspects like projects currently being performed at DOT, quality of the data, first scientific results obtained and other projects with the Indo-Belgian telescopes planned in the near future. The workshop will also delve on data and science with other telescopes of interest within BINA.
By joining forces, Belgian and Indian astronomers can get access to more telescopes of interest. The main goal of this four-day workshop will be to give answers to these questions based on the input from participants.