| Name: | Prasad Neelam |
| Affiliation: | physical Reserach Laboratory |
| Conference ID: | ASI2025_503 |
| Title: | The 2.5M Telescope and backend instruments suite |
| Authors: | Neelam J S S V Prasad, Kapil Bharadwaj, Kevikumar, Nikitha Jithendran, Rishikesh Sharma, Vishal Joshi, Mudit Srivastava, Abhijit Chakraborty |
| Authors Affiliation: | Physical Research Laboratory |
| Mode of Presentation: | Oral |
| Abstract Category: | Facilities, Technologies and Data science |
| Abstract: | Commissioned at Guru Shikhar in October 2022, the 2.5m telescope at Mount Abu is one of India's notable developments in astronomy. This modern facility is one of the most developed observatories in the country, featuring high-tech equipment for high-end observation and data acquisition.
The initial 'first light' instrument set includes the PARAS-2, an in-house developed, high-resolution, fiber-fed spectrograph. PARAS-2 plays a vital role in exoplanet detection and other high-resolution spectroscopic studies, showcasing the expertise of Indian engineers and scientists in cutting-edge instrument design. In addition to PARAS-2, the telescope is equipped with a Speckle Imager, essential for high-contrast imaging, and a 4k CCD Imager (Faint Object Camera-FOC) for imaging studies.
From 2023 to 2024, two instruments developed in the institute were also installed on the telescope: The Low-Resolution Spectrograph (LRS) and Proto-pol. The LRS allows a wide range of low-resolution spectra studies, essential in observing fainter objects or features with a more comprehensive spectral range. Proto-pol, in turn, adds to performing polarization studies and low-resolution spectroscopy by the instrument.
In my talk, I will provide a brief yet comprehensive overview of the 2.5m telescope and its suite of back-end instruments. Each instrument is pivotal in expanding our understanding of the cosmos. |
