| Name: | Kaushal Joshi |
| Affiliation: | Motilal Nehru College |
| Conference ID : | ASI2023_333 |
| Title : | Appreciating Indian Astronomical Heritage with Jantar Mantar through Citizen Science |
| Authors : | Kaushal Joshi, Lehar Laxmi Joshi, Kakul, Vikalp Sharma, Chinmay Shahi, Aviral Srivastava, Ayushka Rathore, Sovan Acharya, Megha Rajoria, Nandivada Rathnasree* |
| Mode of Presentation: | Poster |
| Abstract Category : | Instrumentation and Techniques |
| Abstract : | The Jantar Mantar Observatory is an astronomical marvel that Raja Jai Singh II built in 1723 in Delhi. Similarly, four other observatories were constructed in different parts of North India namely Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Mathura. In 2004 Late Dr. Nandivada Rathnasree started reviving the usage of this observatory in New Delhi and reinstated it for the purpose of studying astronomy and research in Positional Astronomy with her students. This instrument is a sundial and a walk-in observatory to understand the coordinate system - Horizontal Coordinate system and Equatorial coordinate system. Some results of the observations have already been published that show the accuracy of the instruments within the error of 0.1-1 degree (Ram yantra and Jai Prakas Yantra, New Delhi) at the Delhi observatory. The Ram yantra is used as a map of the respective city’s sky and gives the local coordinates-altitude and azimuth of the naked eye observed celestial objects in the sky. This instrument consists of two cylinders that have a least count of 0.1 degrees. The Jaiprakash Yantra consists of two complementary hemispherical-shaped bowls facing the sky, which can measure global and local coordinates. These two instruments are important measurement instruments. The results and data will help in the better understanding of the instruments that would come to use at the time of the restoration of the observatory, as the markings are now missing due to weather conditions and other external factors. This observatory depicts the rich astronomical heritage of India and should be preserved for generations to come. This masonry observatory is a gateway to peep into the past yet observe the present. The observatory is a good example of developing the scientific temperament and understating of positional astronomy. This is a citizen science initiative and helps in mass awareness of the subject. |
