Mount Abu Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Sirohi district, India
Mount Abu Observatory is an astronomical research facility on Guru Shikhar peak, the highest point of the Aravalli range, in Sirohi district, India. Five telescopes, each housed in a separate domed building, are used there to observe celestial objects.
The Physical Research Laboratory proposed the observatory in the 1970s, and the first telescope building was completed on Guru Shikhar in 1986. Since then, the site has grown steadily and taken on a central role in Indian astronomical research.
The observatory is a national research facility where Indian scientists develop their own instruments, such as the PARAS-2 spectrograph, tailored to local observing conditions. This device analyzes starlight to detect planets orbiting distant stars.
Access to the observatory is restricted to researchers and authorized visitors, so it is worth checking entry conditions directly with the Physical Research Laboratory before making the trip. The road to the summit can be narrow and winding, so allow extra time for the drive up.
The altitude of Guru Shikhar results in very little water vapor in the air, which makes infrared observations possible that would not work at lower sites. This was one of the main reasons the location was chosen for the facility before the first building was even constructed.
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