FIRST LIGHT EVENT Organised by Physeeksee-PG Physics Association

On March 25th,2022, the department of PG physics and Physeeksee – the association for PG Physics organized an event called ‘FIRST LIGHT’-the engineering of the brand new 12-inch Cassegrain RC telescope. The event started with a welcome note and address by all the dignitaries, followed by the observation of the 12-inch RC telescope in engineering mode mounted in the UG observatory of our college. The event was open to the public and approximately 100 people attended it.

It began at 5:30 in the evening with the lighting of the lamp by all the dignitaries and a prayer song. The chief guest of the event was Dr. Ajay K Saxena, former dean of physical sciences at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru who generously donated this 12-inch reflector telescope. He is also the technical consultant of the PG observatory.

The UG observatory was first constructed in the 1930’s which then had a 5-inch RC telescope. This was later replaced by an 8-inch reflector telescope which is now mounted in the PG Observatory as the new 12-inch telescope has been mounted in the UG observatory. Dr. Ajay Saxena and Mr. Ismail Jabilulah, technical officer at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru provided constant help and support with the proper placement and engineering of the telescope.

Both, the chief guest and the technical officer were felicitated by the dignitaries and the event was concluded with a vote of thanks and general instructions were given to the audience about viewing of the telescope in the observatory. After the formal function, the students visited the observatory. In the observatory, they got to see the new 12-inch reflector telescope in engineering mode. Vikranth Pulamathi and Shreejaya Karanth performed the trial run of the telescope for the audience which was automated by motor drives and also addressed their questions.