Expert astrophotographers and amateur astronomers came together at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve between 29 September and 4 October 2024 for the second Star Party.
The second Star Party, a unique event, was made possible through a collaborative effort. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), joined hands with the Department of Wildlife Protection of UT Ladakh and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to organize this event. Their combined efforts attracted more than 45 astronomy enthusiasts from all over the country.
Hanle and the surrounding region are host to some of the darkest night skies in India. Hence, the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR), centered around the Indian Astronomical Observatory, was notified by the Govt. of Ladakh in December 2022, and since then, it has been a major attraction for astro-tourism from across the country.
HDSR is a science-based socio-economic development project that aims to preserve the darkness of the night sky through various measures to curb light pollution. It is coupled with an astronomy program in which local villagers have been provided telescopes and trained to be astronomy guides or HDSR Astronomy Ambassadors, thereby earning revenue for the local community.
Hanle holds a special place among the amateur astronomy community in India. The extremely dark sky, along with the exceptionally clear and transparent atmosphere, allows serious astronomy enthusiasts to visually see, as well as photograph, faint celestial objects which cannot be done from other locations. The participants of the Star Party, chosen from more than 200 people who had registered based on their experience and expertise, came from across India, showcasing the high level of interest and expertise in astronomy among the attendees.
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