The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar is set to become the first NIT in the country to have a dedicated campus-based observatory equipped with a 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, officials said on Monday (September 21, 2026).
The facility will give students access to observational astronomy and astronomical imaging facilities, he added. He hoped NSOAA would inspire curiosity, encourage research and help develop a stronger culture of astronomy and astrophysics in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA) will be inaugurated on Tuesday (September 22, 2026), marking a milestone in science education and research, they said. The system includes planetary and cooled deep-sky cameras, luminance, red, green and blue (LRGB) filters, a 2.5x Barlow lens and high-speed imaging capabilities, allowing observations ranging from the Moon and planets to nebulae, star clusters and distant galaxies, the spokesperson said.
The telescope provides aberration-free, flat-field images for astrophotography and planetary observation, the officials said. “Our aim is to create a space where students can move beyond theoretical learning and engage directly with astronomical observations, data and scientific inquiry,” he said. Professor Ganai said the observatory’s impact could extend beyond the campus, and that it could become a regional hub connecting schools, colleges, universities and science enthusiasts across Jammu and Kashmir with modern astronomy. Regular sky-observation programmes, student workshops, teacher-training activities and public viewing sessions could help bring astronomy closer to young learners and encourage them to pursue physics, space science and astrophysics, he said.
