The International Liquid Mirror Telescope is a 4-meter telescope located inside the premises of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in the city of Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. It is the first liquid-mirror telescope for astronomy in Asia and currently the largest liquid-mirror telescope in the world[1] after the decommissioning of the Large Zenith Telescope.
History
On 2 June 2022, the telescope saw its first light.[2] On 12 June 2022, it came online.[3] On 21 June 2022, it became ready to observe.[4] On 21 March 2023, it was inaugurated by Jitendra Singh.[5]
Mechanism
The telescope uses elemental mercury as its mirror surface.[6] The mercury is rotated about the axis of the telescope, and due to centrifugal force, takes a parabolic shape to focus incoming light.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ World's largest liquid mirror telescope ready to observe. Space.com(2022-06-21). Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ↑ Liquid mirror telescope in Devasthal sees first light. The Hindu(2 June 2022).
- ↑ The World's Largest Liquid-Mirror Telescope Comes Online, Williams, Matt. Universe Today(2022-06-12). Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ↑ World's largest liquid mirror telescope ready to observe, Waldek, Stefanie. Space.com(2022-06-21). Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ↑ Four-metre International Liquid Mirror Telescope in Himalayas inaugurated, Madanapalle, Aditya. News9Live(2023-03-21). Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ↑ Unique liquid-mirror telescope set to survey zenith in India, Dixit, Mrigakshi. Astronomy Magazine(11 August 2022). Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ↑ India commissions its first liquid mirror telescope: How will it work?, Hazra, Dipavali. Times Now(2022-06-04). Retrieved 2023-03-24.