Islamabad Space Observatory: capabilities and limitations
Space is considered to be the final frontier and world’s best minds take up the most daunting challenges to conquer it
The writer is an associate professor at Space Science department, Institute of Space Technology Islamabad and is one of the project leads at ISO observatory
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain laid the foundation stone of Islamabad Space Observatory (ISO) at Shakarparian, Islamabad on April 12, 2021. An astronomical observatory is a set up containing telescopes together with supplementary accessories and is used to observe heavenly objects in a specific band of electromagnetic spectrum (EM). Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) is credited for first pointing a 1.5 inch diameter telescope to the heavens. A telescope collects an enormously large amount of light depending on its diameter compared to the human eye thus revealing details that are hidden from our sight. Optical telescopes work in the visible part of the EM spectrum where our eyes are sensitive to the light, making it possible for us to directly view the target through eyepiece. The purpose of building astronomical observatories is to unlock the mysteries of the universe and understand the natural laws that govern it by observing objects from the solar system to the farthest reaches of the universe. However, telescopes are commonly used by the public and space enthusiasts to capture the mesmerising celestial objects, making them a fantastic tool to attract curious minds towards science.