KARACHI: The Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (Ispa) at the Karachi University (KU) has gotten a whole new lease of life with the installation of a state-of-the-art telescope and renovation of its old observatory, thanks to the Space and Upper and Upper Atmosphere Research Com­mission (Suparco) which brought about the required development at a cost of Rs6 million.

The renovated facility was inaugurated on Monday by heads of both institutions at a ceremony where journalists were also briefed about features of the new telescope.

The new equipment, a 16-inch reflecting telescope, has replaced the six-inch aperture refracting telescope procured in 1958 by the university.

The new digital automated telescope, according to Suparco officials, is fitted with a global positioning system and is one of the most modern telescopes currently being used internationally at universities.

The 16-inch gadget to replace the six-inch telescope procured by the university in 1958

The equipment, especially designed for research to view galaxies and deep-space objects, would be operated through a control room, which is equipped with a digital screen that would display the images being captured through the telescope. The observatory now has the facility to carry out live streaming of any celestial event as it has a briefing room with a large screen for the media.

“Students can explore and discover space bodies through this equipment. It can also monitor weather as it has a camera recording changes in weather conditions,” a Suparco official said, adding that students could now acquire, analyse and process data.

Speaking to Dawn, Ispa students hoped that the new telescope would open new research opportunities as the old equipment lacked clarity, precision and the facility to record objects.

At the inaugural ceremony, speakers underscored the need for more institutional support and collaboration. 

“Suparco will continue to assist Ispa and other departments of Karachi University. Our support to research initiatives in the domain of space sciences and related fields would eventually contribute to and strengthen the space programme,” said Suparco chairman Major General Amer Nadeem.

Recalling how the project materialised, he said this was one of the ventures he thought should be taken up on priority when he took over charge of the commission last year.

KU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Iraqi expressed his gratitude to Suparco and hoped that such assistance would continue.

“Development in space research over the past decades has brought about revolutionary advancement in long-distance communications and planetary science. Initiatives like this one would help the university in meeting gaps in its research,” he said.

Earlier, Ispa director Prof Muhammad Jawed Iqbal informed the audience about the MoU the university signed with Suparco a few years ago to upgrade the existing astronomical observatory and provide a modern telescope.

“The main objective of this project is to undertake collaborative research studies. The upgraded observatory would also support space awareness and education programmes for students, general public and the media,” he said.

The institute was also planning to install a small radio telescope as the university had received grant from the Higher Education Commission for the equipment. 

He also briefed the audience about the research initiatives being carried out at the institute.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2019