Kolkata Unveils Its Largest Handmade Telescope for Star Watching!

A group of scientists and astronomy enthusiasts in Kolkata has built a new telescope, the largest one in the city! This impressive 14.5-inch f/5 Dobsonian telescope was officially opened on Saturday in Shyambazar, north Kolkata. Two important figures, Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, the President of the IASES, and IAS officer Abhijit Mukhopadhyay, inaugurated the telescope.

This telescope is unique because it is handmade and showcases both skill and science. The main part of the telescope is a large parabolic mirror, which was carefully crafted right in Kolkata, according to Dr. Sudipta Sasmal. He is one of the co-founders and an associate professor at IASES.

The telescope is a joint project between the Observational Astronomy Centre (OAC) and the Institute of Astronomy Space and Earth Science (IASES). It will help scientists study bright variable stars, watch for exciting space events like novae or supernovae, and observe planets in detail.

The glass used for the telescope’s mirror came from an old ship porthole from the Kandala shipyard. After shaping and grinding, the mirror was polished and coated in Delhi to make sure it gives excellent views of the night sky.

Biswajit Bose, a member of the OAC, has set up the telescope on his rooftop. He highlighted India’s history of scientific creativity, especially among local researchers who find smart solutions with limited resources.

The creators hope to inspire students and astronomy fans in Kolkata to enjoy watching the sky. Even with the city’s light pollution, Bose’s team successfully took beautiful pictures of space using this new telescope.