Vainu Bappu Observatory Yelagiri |Telescope Observatory Yelagiri

Vainu Bappu Observatory Yelagiri |Telescope Observatory Yelagiri

 

Yelagiri formally Known as Vellore Yelagiri (also spelled Elagiri at times) is a hill station in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India, situated off the Vaniyambadi-Tirupattur road. Located at an altitude of 1,110.6 metres above Mean Sea Level and spread across 30 km, the Yelagiri village . 

The Telescope Observatory is also known as The Vainu Bappu observatory. It is located in Kavalar near Yelagiri town.This observatory shows a stunning insight into the tendency of our solar system’s celestial bodies. The VBO is one of the best operating observatories in Asia. 

Telescope Observatory, Yelagiri Overview

 

Vainu Bappu Observatory, also known as the Telescope Observatory is Asia's largest telescope,it was established in 1970s at Kavalur, by M.K. Vainnu Bappu, the former director of the Kodaikanal observatory. 

The VBO comes under the ownership of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore and has several observational facilities yielding research theses for the students of IIA and other universities. The VBO is one of the best operating observatories in Asia. 

The observatory traces its origin back to the year 1786 when William Petrie set up his private observatory at his garden house at Egmore, Madras, which eventually came to be known as the Madras Observatory. Later it was moved over to Kodaikanal and functioned there as the Kodaikanal Observatory since 1899. 

M.K. Vainu Bappu who took over as the Director of the Kodaikanal Observatory in 1960, found a sleepy little hamlet called Kavalur in the Javadu Hills as a suitable site for establishing optical telescopes for observing the celestial objects. This came to be known as Kavalur Observatory. 

The person for whom the observatory is named, Dr Vaini Bappu, built the observatory.The telescope in this room has a diameter of around 93 inches.Later, the name was changed to Indian Institute of Astrophysics. 

The Kavalur Observatory is located in a 100 acre forest land.The observatory houses several optical telescopes, including the 2.3 metre Vainu Bappu telescope, the 1.3 metre J.C Bhattacharya telescope, the 1 metre Carl Zeiss Telescope, and several smaller ones. 

In addition to the telescopes, a Fabry-Perot Interferometer is being utilised to track airglow emissions from the Earth's thermosphere. At a height of 725 metres, the observatory is situated.This observatory gives visitors a stunning view of how the celestial bodies in our solar system move.We can also interact with the officials about the telescope and other information. 

you require prior authorization to enter the observatory. 

Vainu Bappu Observatory |Telescope Observatory Yelagiri Timings : 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Saturdays 

Vainu Bappu Observatory |Telescope Observatory Yelagiri  Entry Fee : Free 

Vainu Bappu Observatory |Telescope Observatory Yelagiri  Location : Javadi Hills, Alangayam, Kavalur, Tamil Nadu 635701 

How to reach Vainu Bappu Observatory |Telescope Observatory Yelagiri : Nearest bus stop  Kavalur bus stop

Nearest Railway Station : Jolerpettai Junction Railway Station: 25 km. 

Nearest Airport : Salem Airport: 152 km.

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