News Highlight
India’s first-ever Night Sky Sanctuary, being set up by CSIR under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology in Ladakh’s Hanle, is in full swing.
Key Takeaway
- This was a follow-up to the meeting held between the two in September this year when Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the setting up of India’s first-ever “Night Sky Sanctuary” in Ladakh, the Dark Sky Reserve will be completed within three months.
Night Sky Sanctuary
- About
- Dark Sky Sanctuary has an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment protected for its scientific, natural, or educational value, cultural heritage and/or public enjoyment.
- Location
- The proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Participants
- A tripartite MoU was signed recently among the UT administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) for launching the Dark Space Reserve.
- Uniqueness
- A sanctuary differs from a Dark Sky Park or Reserve in that it is typically situated in a very remote location with few (if any) nearby threats to the quality of its night skies, and it does not otherwise meet the requirements for designation as a park or reserve.
- The typical geographic isolation of Dark Sky Sanctuaries significantly limits opportunities for public outreach, so a sanctuary designation is specifically designed to increase awareness of these fragile sites and promote their long-term conservation.
- Significance
- India’s First-ever “Night Sky Sanctuary” will have activities to help in boosting local tourism and the economy through interventions of Science and Technology.
- Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
- This proposed dark sky reserve will be located as part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanle, Ladakh.
- Hanle
- At the height of 4,500 metres, Hanle is already home to an optical, a gamma ray and an infrared telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory complex operated by the IIA.
- These telescopes have been used to study stars, galaxies, exoplanets and the evolution of our Universe.
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
- About
- Located in the Changthang Plateau in the Leh district of Ladakh, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most famous sanctuaries in the Ladakh region.
- Highest lake
- Spread over an area of about 4000 sq km, this sanctuary also houses the highest lake on earth, Lake Tso Moriri.
Content Source: Livemint