Near IR lunar occultation observations and results from Gurushikhar observatory

Abstract

Lunar occultation in the near infrared is an elegant and effective technique of achieving high angular resolution in the range of milliarcseconds. Apart from determining with good accuracy the angular diameter and effective temperature of many late type giants and supegiants, the method has also been used to probe the circumstellar regions of many of these stars. A program of high angular resolution studies by the method of lunar occultations in the infrared is being pursued at the 1.2m Gurushikhar telescope. Here the method is outlined and highlighted with interesting results from the Gurushikhar telescope.