India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary in Ladakh

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed the Ladakhfrontrunners that India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary created in Ladakh will provide a boost to astro tourism in the Union Territory and produceincomein addition toimproving living.

The minister said that on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology and CSIR, they will urge the Prime Minister NarendraModi to initiate the Night Sky Reserve as early as possible.

A delegation managed by TashiGyalson,the Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), spoke with thethe Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Minister Jitendra Singh along with other dignitaries in New Delhi and deliberatedon anextensive range of mattersrelating to the growth of the region.

In December 2022, the Ladakh UT Administration informed the planned Dark Sky Reserve at Hanle village in Eastern Ladakh. Set in an area of 1,073 square kilometers, the Night Sky Reserve is situated within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, which is the second-highest visual telescope globally.

Jitendra Singhsaid that this dark sky reserve is among those 15 to 16 comparablewith this in the world that will provide anexceptionalsight of the dark sky. Forits height and position across the Himalayas in the rain shadow zone, this Night Sky Reserve is the perfect place for star gazers nearlyall through the year.

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