B.N. Institute Science Department's Educational Excursion to Udaipur Solar Observatory

Udaipur: An educational excursion was organized for students of the B.N. Institute's Udaipur and Rajasmand Science Department. The educational excursion was attended by 21 students of the science department along with the Dean of Science Department, Dr. Renu Rathore, Associate Dean Dr. Ritu Tomar, Dr. Sangeeta Rathore, Dr. Kamal Singh Rathore, Dr. Devendra Parik, Dr. Preeti Mehta, Dr. Chandrapal Singh Chauhan, Dr. Nikunj Jaitawat, Dr. Lokesh Suthar, Dr. Santwana Bafna, and Deepali Baregama. According to Dr. Devendra Parik, the head of the Physics Department and coordinator of the educational excursion, there is a 50 centimeter aperture MAST (Multi Application Solar Telescope) inside Fatehsagar Lake. With its assistance, various types of research are conducted after focusing the sunlight at one place. Prof. Shibu's Mathew, Ramya Beereddy, and Anisha Kulhari provided students with various research-related information and explained about the various layers of the sun, such as the chromosphere, corona, and the presence of sunspots (solar spots or stains) on the photosphere. Another Spar telescope is also available at the Fatehsagar Lake Solar Observatory, which was established in 1975. Ravi Chaurasia provided detailed information about it and explained that with the help of this telescope, the surface of the sun is observed as a disk. Solar eruptions and emissions on a large scale are also visible through high-resolution telescopes. Scientists understand the changes in the solar magnetic field, explosions, and the effects of space weather through the data and images obtained from them and conduct various solar-related research. He also explained that the telescope is placed in the middle of the lake to minimize turbulence in the air, enabling high-quality research related to the sun and providing better images. This educational excursion was organized through the special efforts of Dr. Raja Banna. After learning all this, the students of the science department were extremely excited and their interest in research was awakened. Udaipur is home to India's only and one of the world's six Gong (Global Oscillation Network Group) telescopes, all operated under the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, and ISRO. The team of scientists at this observatory has been researching and studying various sciences, including astrophysics, solar physics, solar physics, space, and atmospheric sciences, including the study of the mysteries of the sun for the past five decades. This observatory will also write a success story with the upcoming Aditya L1 solar mission.