New Telescopes in Ladakh to Boost Space Research | 14 Feb 2026

Source: IE 

Why in News?  

The Union Budget 2026-27 has sanctioned two new world-class telescopes in Ladakh - the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) and the National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT), along with the upgradation of the existing Himalayan Chandra Telescope.  

• The move is being seen as a transformative step for observational astronomy in India and the Global South. 
• Ladakh, already home to the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, offers ideal high-altitude, dry, and clear atmospheric conditions, making it one of the best astronomical sites in the world. 

What is the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST)? 

• About: The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) will be a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to solar physics.  It is estimated to be operational within the next 5–6 years. 
  • It will be set up in the Merak region near Pangong Tso lake. It features a 2-metre aperture and will serve as India’s third ground-based solar observatory (after Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (1899) and Udaipur Solar Observatory (1975)). 
• Operational Spectrum: The telescope will operate in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
• Scientific Objectives: 
  • To study fundamental solar dynamics and magnetism. 
  • To observe energetic solar events and map space-weather processes. 
  • This data is crucial for protecting national space assets like satellites and launch vehicles. 
• Synergy with Space Missions: Data from NLST will complement ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission (India’s space-based solar observatory), reinforcing India’s leadership in heliophysics. 

What is the National Large Optical-Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT)? 

• About: The National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT), to be built in Hanle, will be a 13.7-metre aperture segmented-mirror telescope and is set to become one of the world’s largest telescopes operating in the optical–near infrared spectrum. 
  • NLOT is projected to be ready over the next decade. 
• Technology: Unlike a single piece of glass, the primary mirror will consist of 90 smaller hexagonal segmented mirrors that act as one large unit.  
  • This design leverages India’s experience in the international Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project. 
• Scientific Objectives: To conduct frontier research on exoplanets, stellar evolution, and supernovae. 
  • To search for clues regarding the origins of the universe. 
• Geographical Advantage: Due to Hanle's high altitude, cold/dry atmosphere, and clear skies, data collected here will not suffer from diffraction issues common in other locations. 

What is the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)? 

• About: The HCT is a 2.01-metre optical–infrared telescope located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh.  
  • It achieved first light in 2000, and began regular scientific observations in 2003.  
  • The telescope operates remotely from CREST (Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology), Hosakote, Karnataka, via a dedicated satellite link. 
  • It is equipped with advanced instruments including the Himalaya Faint Object Spectrograph (HFOSC), the Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (TIRSPEC), and the Hanle Echelle Spectrograph (HESP).  
  • With high pointing and tracking accuracy, strong image quality, and an autoguider system capable of guiding on faint stars, HCT plays a crucial role in optical and infrared astronomy, particularly in the study of transient cosmic events such as supernovae. 
• Upgrade Details: The telescope will be upgraded to a 3.7-metre segmented primary mirror system. 
• Future Role: It will continue to operate in the optical-infrared wavelength. 
  • Its operations will complement major international facilities like LIGO-India (Gravitational-Wave Observatory in Maharashtra) and the Square Kilometre Array (radio telescope project in Australia and South Africa). 

What is the Significance of These Developments in Astronomy? 

• Unique Longitudinal Advantage: Both NLST and NLOT will be one-of-a-kind facilities operating at this specific longitude.  
  • This fills a crucial gap in global surveillance of the sky, allowing for continuous monitoring of celestial events that might be missed by telescopes in other time zones. 
• Data Sovereignty: These facilities will generate high-quality data that was previously inaccessible to Indian scientists without international dependence. 
• Global South Leadership: The project boosts the scientific capabilities of the Global South, offering preferential telescope observation time to Indian researchers and facilitating international collaborations. 
• Space Weather Monitoring: The NLST will be crucial for monitoring solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Understanding these "Space Weather" events is vital for protecting India’s satellites, communication grids, and power infrastructure from solar storms.