IAO Hanle

IAO Hanle 

News: A new study shows that the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) located in Hanle is one of the emerging sites for infrared and optical astronomy studies. 

About IAO Hanle 
• The IAO, located in Hanle at Mount Saraswati near Leh in Ladakh, has one of the world’s highest located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes. 
• It was established in 2001 and is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. 
• It is currently the ninth highest optical telescope in the world, situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters. 
• Hanle site is as dry as the Atacama Desert in Chile and much drier than Devasthal (Uttarakhand) and has around 270 clear nights in a year and is also one of the emerging sites for infrared and sub-mm optical astronomy. 
• This is because water vapour absorbs electromagnetic signals and reduces their strength. 
• It has advantages of more clear nights, minimal light pollution, background aerosol concentration, extremely dry atmospheric conditions, and uninterrupted monsoon. 
• Such conditions are considered crucial for astronomers to build huge telescopes and plan for future observatories and predict how they will vary with time.