Kodaikanal Observatory

Weather : 10 - 20°C

Tags : Museum

Timings : 1st April - 15th June: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Rest of the year: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Open only on Fridays)

Time Required : 2-3 hrs

Entry Fee : No entry fee

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Kodaikanal Overview

Located at the southern tip of the beautiful Palani Hills, the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory was established in 1899 and is owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Its longitudinal position makes it a unique site for the study of solar behaviour. The scientific abode also houses the most extensive collection of solar data, dating way back to the 19th century. Its unique geography makes the spot particularly ideal for accurate cosmic observations (especially related to the sun).

Currently, their full-time team consists of two scientists and nineteen technicians, with equipment such as the high frequency Doppler (for measuring a wave motion phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect), a broadband seismograph (an instrument used to detect seismic waves emerging from the Earth), a Watson magnetometer, and the solar tunnel telescope among many others.

In January 1909, an important solar phenomenon known as the Evershed effect was first discovered from the data collected at this observatory. The pioneer behind this discovery - John Evershed - thus propelled the status of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory as a premier solar physics lab in the country. Such was the comprehensiveness of his study in the motion of sunspots that there was little added to the topic for at least a century.

Read More on Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

Structure and Equipments at Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

One of the observatory's greatest possessions is the library, which holds archives of astronomical literature, mostly centred on the topics of solar and solar-terrestrial physics. This collection is of historical importance around the world for solar data and observations, which is why it is often referred to and cited in research papers.

Another interesting feature of the observatory is the 20 cm refractor, which is used to survey comets and occultation activities, i.e. when an object is hidden from the view of an observer, as another object blocks the line of sight. This artefact may be made available to the general public for star gazing at night, subject to approval from appropriate authorities.

Its state-of-the-art meeting and accommodation facilities are frequently used for conducting international meetings and workshops. The observatory also consists of an astronomy museum, which mainly contains pictorials of significant astronomical or solar events. A couple of models, a live solar image and the Fraunhofer spectrum (the sun’s visible colourful rays) complement the scientific vibe of the observatory.