Guwahati: Guwahati planetarium, which receives over 500 visitors daily, purchased four new highly-advanced telescopes worth over Rs 5 lakh.
With these new additions, the planetarium authorities plan to to enhance the experience for astronomy enthusiasts, allowing them to observe the fiery red planet, Mars, up close.
Planetarium curator Babul Chandra Bora said out of the four telescopes purchased, one is catadioptric, one is reflecting and the other two are of the refracting type.
The planetarium’s official purchase records detail the specifications of the newly acquired telescopes. The catadioptric model features an aluminum optical tube 2000 millimeters in length and 200 millimeters in diameter, offering a base magnification of 56x and a maximum magnification of 204x.
The refracting models come with a 900-millimeter-long optical tube and a 120-millimeter diameter, delivering a similar base magnification of 56x and a maximum magnification of 204x. Meanwhile, the reflecting model is equipped with optical tubes 1200 millimeters long and 254 millimeters in diameter, providing a base magnification of 36x and a maximum of up to 500x.
Bora added that these devices have been brought ahead of the much anticipated alignment of the Sun, Earth and Mars, during which the red planet will appear bright. “The telescopes are designed to provide visitors with a detailed and breathtaking view of the red planet, making the event a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the visitors. We have made the necessary arrangements and during the event, the facility’s closing time will also be extended,” he added.
The phenomenon also known as the ‘opposition’, occurs every 26 months and it will be seen in the month of January. “The opposition will take place on Jan 16. However, it will come close to our planet on Jan 12. The distance is estimated to be over 96 million kilometers away” Bora said.
It must be noted that the red planet appeared to be extremely close to our planet during the month of Aug of 2003, in which the distance was approximately 56 kilometers away. This phenomenon is known as ‘perihelic opposition’ and it won’t be seen again till the year 2287.
With these new additions, the planetarium authorities plan to to enhance the experience for astronomy enthusiasts, allowing them to observe the fiery red planet, Mars, up close.
Planetarium curator Babul Chandra Bora said out of the four telescopes purchased, one is catadioptric, one is reflecting and the other two are of the refracting type.
The planetarium’s official purchase records detail the specifications of the newly acquired telescopes. The catadioptric model features an aluminum optical tube 2000 millimeters in length and 200 millimeters in diameter, offering a base magnification of 56x and a maximum magnification of 204x.
The refracting models come with a 900-millimeter-long optical tube and a 120-millimeter diameter, delivering a similar base magnification of 56x and a maximum magnification of 204x. Meanwhile, the reflecting model is equipped with optical tubes 1200 millimeters long and 254 millimeters in diameter, providing a base magnification of 36x and a maximum of up to 500x.
Bora added that these devices have been brought ahead of the much anticipated alignment of the Sun, Earth and Mars, during which the red planet will appear bright. “The telescopes are designed to provide visitors with a detailed and breathtaking view of the red planet, making the event a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the visitors. We have made the necessary arrangements and during the event, the facility’s closing time will also be extended,” he added.
The phenomenon also known as the ‘opposition’, occurs every 26 months and it will be seen in the month of January. “The opposition will take place on Jan 16. However, it will come close to our planet on Jan 12. The distance is estimated to be over 96 million kilometers away” Bora said.
It must be noted that the red planet appeared to be extremely close to our planet during the month of Aug of 2003, in which the distance was approximately 56 kilometers away. This phenomenon is known as ‘perihelic opposition’ and it won’t be seen again till the year 2287.
