The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and other allied bodies which are a part of the worldwide 30-m telescope (TMT) are expecting a go-ahead from the Government of India for the project by 2013.

Speaking to Business Line , Prof. Eswar Reddy, Coordinator for the TMT, India Group, said the TMT project will take eight more years to get operational, but by the end of next year, the technical demo will be made by IIA to the Department of Science and Technology. “We are expecting a Government go-ahead by 2013-end,” said Prof. Reddy.

The TMT is made up of 492 segments of 1.4 m each and India will be making 125 segments. All the 492 elements have to be integrated such that they act like a single monolithic 30-m mirror.

The TMT will see “first light” and be operational around 2020. By the time it is ready, it would have cost $1.6 billion and India will be responsible for 10 per cent of the costs and have a right to 10 per cent of the viewing time of the telescope, which is around 25 nights annually.

These nights are useful for Indian scientists because viewing time on telescopes is extremely costly. Currently, one of the largest telescopes in the world is the W. M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, which has two 10-m telescopes, and the costs for a single night's viewing are high. “For one night, you have to spend $1 lakh,” said Prof. Reddy, which translates to over Rs 51 lakh at current exchange rates.

Don't twinkle, little star

The TMT will be placed on Mauna Kea, the highest point in the state of Hawaii. Mauna Kea has 75 per cent clear nights, which translate to around 273 clear nights annually. Clear nights are important because it improves the ability to view stars. Stars twinkle because of interference from the atmosphere and if you go to space, they will not twinkle because there is no atmosphere, said Prof. Reddy.

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