Characterization of sites for Indian large optical telescope project

Abstract

Growing Indian astronomical community require access to large observing facility preferably located within the country. Site surveys carried out in the post indicates that the best sites for optical-NIR astronomy can better be found in Indian part of trans-Himalayan region. This very high-altitude, extremely dry and cold region is far from any artificial light pollution having low atmospheric aerosols, not much affected by monsoon and has got clear sky all through year. In the year 2000, as a pathfinder to large telescope, one 2m size optical telescope was commissioned at Indian Astronomical Observatory(IAO) Hanle Ladakh. However, before initiating a project to install a large 8-10m size Optical-NIR telescope it is essential to thorough characterize few candidate sites in and around IAO. Keeping this in consideration, once again we have started a detailed site survey program. In this paper, we will briefly present our effort to indigenously develop site survey instruments as well as results obtained by using them.