Kolkata, 5 April

A group of scientists and optical observers from two organisations in Kolkata have come together to create what is being described as the city's largest telescope. The 14.5-inch f/5 Dobsonian telescope was inaugurated in the Shyambazar area of ​​north Kolkata during the day, said one of the key persons behind the project.

"This is the city's largest handmade telescope. It is a combination of both craftsmanship and scientific ambition. The key part of this telescope is its large parabolic primary mirror, which has been painstakingly hand-made and shaped in Kolkata," said Dr Sudipta Sasmal, co-founder and associate professor of IASES.

The instrument, built in collaboration between the Observational Astronomy Centre (OAC) and the Institute of Astronomy Space and Earth Science (IASES), will be used for studying bright variable stars and detailed planetary observations, he said.

The glass piece of the telescope's mirror was obtained from a salvaged ship's porthole from the Kandla shipyard, Sasmal said. After initial grinding and shaping, the mirror underwent fine polishing and aluminisation in Delhi to obtain a high-quality optical surface required for accurate astronomical observations, he said.

Despite the light pollution in the city, Bose claimed that his team captured good quality astrophotography using the telescope. The organisers want to attract people in and around the city, especially students and sky enthusiasts, to witness various astronomical events.