Dark sky reserve

Facts for Prelims

Dark sky reserve

News: A part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary at Hanle, Ladakh is all set to become India’s first Dark Sky Reserve.

What is dark sky reserve?
• A Dark Sky Reserve is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference. Several such reserves exist around the world but none so far in India.
• The site will host activities to promote astronomy-tourism, giving a boost to local tourism and economy through science. The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) will be an area spanning 22 km in radius centred on the Hanle observatory.

Why Hanle?
• Being a cold desert region, Ladakh holds great potential for undertaking uninterrupted astronomical observations.
• Dry weather and clear sky conditions prevail during most months of the year, making Hanle a naturally perfect setup for sky gazing and setting up astronomical observatories.
• At a 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.