Nizamia observatory

Japal-Rangapur Nizamia Observatory
	Nizamia Observatory
Alternative names	Hyderabad observatory
Named after	Nizam of Hyderabad
Organization	Osmania University
Observatory code	218
Location	Punjagutta
Coordinates	17°25′54″N78°27′9″E / 17.43167°N 78.45250°E
Established	1901
Telescopes
15" Grubb
15" Grubb	refractor telescope
8" Cooke	astrograph
48" telescope	reflector telescope
	Location of Japal-Rangapur Nizamia Observatory
	Related media on Commons
	[ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated April 07, 2024

Nizamia observatory is an optical observatory built by Nawab Zafar Jung Bahadur member of the House of Paigah and Amir of the Khurshid Jahi estate and established by Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI - the 6th Nizam of Kingdom of Hyderabad in 1901. It participated in the Carte du Ciel making 463,542 observations. It boasted of an 8" Cooke Astrograph and a 15" Grubb refractor telescope.^[1]

History

It was founded by Nawab Zafar Yar Jung Bahadur, a rich Nobleman member of the Paigah Nobility and an astronomer and the Amir of the Khursheed Jahi Paigah in Hyderabad in 1901 when he bought a 6-inch telescope from England. He installed it in Phisal Banda Palace, Hyderabad (Now Deccan Medical College and Owaisi Hospital). He requested that it be called Nizamiah Observatory after the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. Bahadur died in 1907 and requested that Nizam's Government take over the Observatory. In accordance with his wishes, the administration of the Observatory was taken over by the Finance Department of the Nizam Government in 1908.^[2]^[3]

In the mid-1950s owing to the expansion of Hyderabad city and light pollution, a new site was scouted for the Observatory. Dr. K D Abhayankar selected the current 200 acres site at Rangapur village. The new observatory was called the Japal-Rangapur Nizamia Observatory. It became operational in 1968–69. It was subsequently used to observe the 1980 solar eclipse and the comets, Halley and Shoemaker-Levy.^[4]

Arthur B Chatwood (1866-1915) was Director, of Nizamia Observatory between 1908 and 1914.^[5] He moved the location of the Observatory from Pisal Banda to Begumpet. During his time, the 8" Cooke Astrograph was installed. He started work on the astrograph catalog. This work was continued by Robert J Pocock (1889-1918) who was Director of the Observatory between 1914 and 1918.^[6] He also studied Nova Aquilae, sunspots, and the relation between elements of planets and satellites. On the death of Pocock, his assistant, T P Bhaskaran (1889-1950) took over in 1918.^[7] He had to wait till 1922 to be officially appointed and continued till 1944. He was the first person of Indian origin to become a Director of an Observatory.^[8]^[7] During his time, control of the Observatory moved from the finance department in the Nizam government to Osmania University. The 15" Grubb refractor telescope was installed in 1922 under Bhaskaran's supervision. He started the program of observation of variable stars using this telescope. M K Vainu Bappu made variable star observations from here in the 1940s and 1950s. A spectrohelioscope and a blink comparator were added in the mid-1940s. It participated in Carte du Ciel between 1908 and 1944, an international astronomy observation program. It was assigned the coordinates from 17 to 23 degrees South between 1914 and 1929. It was assigned coordinates 36 to 39 degrees North between 1928 and 1938.^[9]^[10]

Akbar Ali became Director of the Observatory in 1944 and worked till 1960. Akbar Ali installed the 48" telescope at the Observatory. Under his directorship, the study of photoelectric photometry was introduced and the study of comets, variable stars, lunar occultation, solar activity, and study of motion of clusters was undertaken.^[9] It also participated in the solar and seismological observations as part of the International Geophysical Year (1957–58).

A K Das was Director of the Observatory in 1960 for a very short time after his retirement as Director of Kodaikanal Observatory. However, his sudden death meant that K D Abhayankar was made acting Director between 1960 and 1963. Abhayankar moved the site of the observatory from Hyderabad to a tiny hillock between the villages of Japal and Rangapur, at a distance of 55 km from Hyderabad. R V Karandikar became director in 1963. The hillock was installed in 1964 and commissioned in December 1968. In 1964, the University Grants Commission recognized the astronomy department and the observation facilities as Nizamia and Japal-Rangapur as Center for Advanced Studies in Astronomy (CASA).^[9]

In order to observe the solar eclipse on February 16, 1980, CASA collaborated with Physical Research Laboratory and Space Applications Center in Ahmedabad to obtain a 10 feet steerable dish. This dish was used to make high-resolution microwave brightness temperature measurements. It is since being used to study solar flux.^[9]

Telescopes

The Observatory has a 48-inch telescope, the second largest in Asia, after the 93-inch instrument at Vainu Bappu Observatory in Tamil Nadu, India. The telescope was mechanically operated. It was used to study comets, planetary atmosphere and near-Earth asteroids. The Observatory has two other 12-inch telescopes and one 10-feet radio telescope operating at 10 GHz.^[11]^[12]

Current status

It currently lies unused on the premises of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad, India. The observatory at Rangapur faces the same issue of light pollution and urbanisation of the locality and remains unused. There are currently proposals to convert the space into an engineering college.^[4]

Related Research Articles

Boyden Observatory is an astronomical research observatory and science education centre located in Maselspoort, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of the city of Bloemfontein in Free State, South Africa. The observatory is managed by the Physics Department of the University of the Free State (UFS). The Friends of Boyden assist the observatory as a public support group, organising open evenings and protecting its public interest. Boyden also makes use of members of ASSA Bloemfontein Centre, the amateur astronomy club of the city, for presenters and telescope assistants.

The Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory, officially named the Central Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences at Pulkovo, is the principal astronomical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is located 19 km south of Saint Petersburg on Pulkovo Heights 75 metres (246 ft) above sea level. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments. It was formerly known as the Imperial Observatory at Pulkowo.

Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia, part of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics (RSAA) at the Australian National University (ANU), incorporates the Anglo-Australian Telescope along with a collection of other telescopes owned by the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, and other institutions. The observatory is situated 1,165 metres (3,822 ft) above sea level in the Warrumbungle National Park on Mount Woorat, also known as Siding Spring Mountain. Siding Spring Observatory is owned by the Australian National University (ANU) and is part of the Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories research school.

An astrograph is a telescope designed for the sole purpose of astrophotography. Astrographs are mostly used in wide-field astronomical surveys of the sky and for detection of objects such as asteroids, meteors, and comets.

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), with its headquarters in Bengaluru, is an autonomous research institute wholly funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. IIA conducts research primarily in the areas of astronomy, astrophysics and related fields.

The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory is a solar observatory owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is on the southern tip of the Palani Hills 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Kodaikanal.

The Vainu Bappu Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is located at Kavalur in the Javadi Hills, near Vaniyambadi in Tirupathur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is 200 km south-west of Chennai and 175 km south-east of Bangalore.

Anil Kumar Das FRAS, FNI was an Indian scientist, astronomer. During the International Geophysical Year, observatories in Madrid, India, and Manila were responsible for monitoring solar effects. The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory in South India performed this monitoring using their recently built solar tunnel telescope. Das was the director of the Kodaikanal observatory at this time. In 1960 he was responsible for installing a tower/tunnel telescope at the facility that would be used to perform some of the first helioseismology investigations. The crater Das on the far side of the Moon is named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Paigah</span> Noble family in the senior aristocracy of Hyderabad State

Paigah family was a noble family from the former Hyderabad State. The family maintained their own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry troops.

The Carnegie telescope is a twin 20-inch (510 mm) refractor telescope located at Lick Observatory in California, United States. The double telescope's construction began in the 1930s with a grant from the Carnegie institution, although it was not completed until the 1960s when a second lens was added. The telescope is not designed for visual observation, rather it has two lenses used for taking photographs for a specific wavelength recorded on a film emulsion. It was used for photographic sky surveys in the late 20th century, which were successfully completed.

The Royal Observatory of Belgium, has been situated in the Uccle municipality of Brussels, Belgium, since 1890. It was first established in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode in 1826 by King William I of the Netherlands under the impulse of Adolphe Quetelet. It was home to a 100 cm (39 in) diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century, one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time. It now owns a variety of other astronomical instruments, such as astrographs, as well as a range of seismograph equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vainu Bappu</span> Indian astronomer

Manali Kallat Vainu Bappu was an Indian astronomer and president of the International Astronomical Union. Bappu helped to establish several astronomical institutions in India, including the Vainu Bappu Observatory which is named after him, and he also contributed to the establishment of the modern Indian Institute of Astrophysics. In 1957, he discovered the Wilson–Bappu effect jointly with American astronomer Olin Chaddock Wilson.

Deccan College of Medical Science (DCMS) is a medical school situated in Hyderabad, India offering the courses MBBS, postgraduate degree / diploma and superspeciality courses. It has an approved intake of 150 MBBS seats annually.

Ameerpet is a residential hub located in the north-west part of Hyderabad, Telangana. Ameerpet is also a Mandal in Hyderabad District. The locality shares its borders with Sardar Patel Road and the National Highway 65. Though consisting of vacant plots till a few years back, the area is now bustling with some commercial and residential establishments.

The Asaf Jahi was a Muslim dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad State. The family came to India in the late 17th century and became employees of the Mughal Empire. They were great patrons of Persian culture, language, and literature, and the family found ready patronage.

Phisal Banda is a locality in Santoshnagar neighbourhood of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is well known for being the site of the historic Paigah Tombs and Phisal Banda Palace of Nawab Zafar Jung Bahadur of Khursheed Jahi Paigah, a rich Nobleman and an amateur astronomer in Hyderabad in 1901 bought a 6-inch telescope from England. He installed it in his estate of Phisal Banda Palace premises in a Seven-storey Almirah-type building, in Hyderabad. He named it as Nizamiah Observatory after the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. Nawab Zafar Jung Bahadur died in 1907 and as per his request, the Nizam's Government took over the Observatory. In accordance with his wishes, the administration of the Observatory was taken over by the Finance Department of the Nizam's Government in 1908.[2][3]

The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) is an Indian society of professional astronomers and other professionals from related disciplines. It was founded in 1972, with Vainu Bappu being the founder President of the Society, and as of 2010 has a membership of approximately 1000. Its registered office is at the Astronomy Department, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. Its primary objective is the promotion of Astronomy and related branches of science. It organises meetings, supports and tries to popularise Astronomy and related subjects and publishes the Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India.

Joseph Thomas Ward was a New Zealand astronomer and telescope maker. Born in England, he migrated to New Zealand circa 1880, and settled in Whanganui. Ward was a pioneer New Zealand telescope maker, instrumental in establishing both the Wanganui Astronomical Society, and the Wanganui Observatory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirupama Raghavan</span>

Nirupama Raghavan was an Indian astrophysicist, weather scientist, historian of science and educator. She was the Director of the Nehru Planetarium in New Delhi.

Abu'l Fakhr Muhammad Fakhruddin Khan (1780–1863), also called Amir e KabirShams-ul-Umra I, was an Indian nobleman. He was the first member of the House of Paigah to be matrimonially allied to the House of Asaf Jah. His full name with titles was Shams ul-Umara, Amir-i-Kabir, Khurshid ul-Mulk,Khurshid ud-Daula, Nawab ‘Abu’l Fakhr Muhammad Fakhr ud-din Khan Bahadur, Imam Jang [‘Abu’l Khair Khan III]; he became The First Amir of the House of Paigah, the Paigah Amirs held the honorary monarchal (standard) behind the Nizam of Hyderabad and were the highest order nobility. Paigah members were said to be richer than average Maharajas and had their own standing army, palaces, and courts

References

↑ Lasania, Yunus L (13 June 2014). "Nizamiah Observatory falls into disuse". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
↑ Kapoor, R. C. "On the 'Astronomical Notes' in Current Science about the bright comet of 1941" (PDF). Current Science. 105 (6): 854–858.
↑ "A fallen star". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
1 2 Vadlamudi, Swathi (12 May 2019). "Japal-Rangapur Observatory left to ruin". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 16 January 2020.
↑ UNKNOWN (1916-01). "OBITUARY. ARTHUR BRUNEL CHATWOOD, 1866-1915". Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 201 (1916): 403. doi:10.1680/imotp.1916.16122. ISSN 1753-7843.{{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
↑ "1919MNRAS..79..230. Page 230". articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
1 2 "1951MNRAS.111R.154. Page 154". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 111: 154. 1951. Bibcode:1951MNRAS.111R.154.
↑ Kochhar, Rajesh; Narlikar, Jayant (1995). Astronomy in India: A Perspective. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. p. 19.
1 2 3 4 Bhattacharya, J. C.; Vagiswari, A (1985). "Astronomy in India in the 20th Century" (PDF). Indian Journal of History of Science. 20: 408. Bibcode:1985InJHS..20..403B.
↑ Kuzmin et. all, A (1999). Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. Vol. 136. pp. 491–508.
↑ Avadhuta, Mahesh (26 March 2017). "When Nasa took data from Nizamia observatory". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
↑ Akula, Yuvraj. "Nizamia Observatory to regain its lost glory". Telangana Today. Retrieved 16 January 2020.

17°25′54″N78°27′9″E / 17.43167°N 78.45250°E / 17.43167; 78.45250

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Hindu_1-1] Lasania, Yunus L (13 June 2014). "Nizamiah Observatory falls into disuse". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 September 2014.

[2] Kapoor, R. C. "On the 'Astronomical Notes' in Current Science about the bright comet of 1941" (PDF). Current Science. 105 (6): 854–858.

[3] "A fallen star". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

[:1-4] 1 2 Vadlamudi, Swathi (12 May 2019). "Japal-Rangapur Observatory left to ruin". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 16 January 2020.

[5] UNKNOWN (1916-01). "OBITUARY. ARTHUR BRUNEL CHATWOOD, 1866-1915". Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 201 (1916): 403. doi:10.1680/imotp.1916.16122. ISSN 1753-7843.{{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[6] "1919MNRAS..79..230. Page 230". articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 6 April 2024.

[:3-7] 1 2 "1951MNRAS.111R.154. Page 154". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 111: 154. 1951. Bibcode:1951MNRAS.111R.154.

[8] Kochhar, Rajesh; Narlikar, Jayant (1995). Astronomy in India: A Perspective. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. p. 19.

[:2-9] 1 2 3 4 Bhattacharya, J. C.; Vagiswari, A (1985). "Astronomy in India in the 20th Century" (PDF). Indian Journal of History of Science. 20: 408. Bibcode:1985InJHS..20..403B.

[10] Kuzmin et. all, A (1999). Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. Vol. 136. pp. 491–508.

[:0-11] Avadhuta, Mahesh (26 March 2017). "When Nasa took data from Nizamia observatory". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 16 January 2020.

[12] Akula, Yuvraj. "Nizamia Observatory to regain its lost glory". Telangana Today. Retrieved 16 January 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]