NIT Srinagar Sets Up Campus Observatory with 14-Inch Telescope

The National Institute of Technology in Srinagar is launching the country's first campus-based observatory among all NITs, featuring a 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Named the NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics, or NSOAA, the facility is scheduled for inauguration on September 22, 2026. Officials stated that the setup provides aberration-free, flat-field images suitable for both planetary observation and astrophotography.

Equipment and Collaboration

The core of the new observatory is a 14-inch Celestron C14 EdgeHD telescope paired with a computerised equatorial mount and specialised imaging gear. The system includes planetary and cooled deep-sky cameras, LRGB filters, a 2.5x Barlow lens, and high-speed imaging tools to observe the Moon, planets, nebulae, star clusters, and distant galaxies. The project was developed alongside the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru, with scientific guidance from IIA adviser Dr. Niruj Mohan Ramanujam. Professor Prince Ahmad Ganai, head of the physics department at NIT-Srinagar, is leading the project to help students transition from textbook learning to direct data collection and scientific inquiry.

Future Plans and Outreach

NSOAA aims to serve as a regional hub connecting schools, colleges, and science enthusiasts across Jammu and Kashmir through sky-observation programmes, student workshops, and public viewing sessions. NIT-Srinagar is also considering launching a hands-on course on astronomy and astrophysics in the coming months, offering special sessions for students from around the Kashmir Valley. This development places NIT-Srinagar alongside other technical institutions like IIT Kanpur that operate similar campus-based observatories.