Happy Christmas and Happy New Year
Dear
all,
It is long time since I had post
any activities in our department. Actually I was waiting so that I could post
it BIG. Any way I wish you (belated) Happy Christmas and Happy New Year. Let me
take this opportunity to share some information about Observatory and its prospects
with regard to our development of our Department. Let me give its title as
Our Dream
The Thiruvananthapuram Observatory
stands on a hill, about 60 feet high, and 200 feet above the level of sea from
which it is distant, in a straight line, about two miles. It commands an
extensive and beautiful view of an undulating and finely variegated country
towards north, the east, and the south-and of the sea horizon to the west. The
eastern view is terminated by the Ghat Mountains.
The geographical
situation of the Observatory is 8 degree
30 min northern latitude and 76 degree 59 min eastern longitude.
The Observatory which
functions today as part of the Department of Physics, University of Kerala,
commenced its operations in 1837 and
is one of the oldest of its kind in modern India.
It owes its origin to
the initiative and vision of Sri Swati Tirunal (1829-46), the versatile
Maharaja of Travancore who himself, a keen student of Astronomy. The
Maharaja used to discuss the different aspects of astronomy with Mr. John
Caldecott the commercial agent of Travancore Government at Alleppey who was
well-versed in astronomy.
(I think we need an annex in Alleppey too!!!-My Home)
John Caldecott
Mr. Caldecott used to
make astronomical observations with several portable instruments of his own and
found them to agree with those of the Hindu science and Astronomy. A formal
proposal for the establishment of an Observatory was put up to the Maharaja by
Caldecott through Col. Fraser the British Resident and it was sanctioned by the
Maharaja who was "desirous that his country should partake with European
nations in scientific investigation". Though Caldecott originally proposed
the establishment of the Observatory at Alleppey, the Maharaja decided to have
it at Trivandrum. The Observatory building was satisfactorily
erected under the direction of Lieutenant Horsely of the Madras Engineers who
was visiting Engineer and Superintendent of Irrigation in Travancore State. The
infant institution received the astronomical instruments owned by Caldecott as
free gift.
Lieutenant Horsely
The Maharaja also took special
interest in equipping it with the best instruments available at the time in
Europe. Caldecott himself was appointed first Director of the Observatory, in
addition to his being the court Astronomer. Mr. Caldecott's original proposal
was the establishment of an astronomical Observatory, and he got down for this
purpose a few astronomical instruments but when the institution started work in
1837, greater attention seems to have been paid to meteorological observations.
The instruments
initially procured to the Observatory include a transit telescope with five
feet focal length and four inches aperture, a transit clock an altitude and
azimuth instrument having 18 and 15-inch circles and powerful telescopes.
Mr. Caldecott also
published three issues of an astronomical ephemeris adapted to the meridian of
Trivandrum. After the death of Mr.Caldecott, Mr.John Allan Broun.F.R.S was
appointed Director of the Observatory in 1851, and he took charge of the
institution in 1852.
Before
he came to India he was for seven years Director of the magnetic Observatory at
Makerstoun on southern Scotland, and had an excellent record of work published
by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. However he continued his work in Trivandrum
with special interest in magnetism and meteorology. From his observations he
concluded that the Sun and the Moon exert certain influence on the direction of
the magnetic needle, and there is a lunar diurnal variation for this influence.
Near the equator the influence was in December opposite to what it was in June.
He also showed that the lunar action was reversed at sunrise, and much greater
during daytime than at night, whether the moon was above or below the horizon.
Mr. Broun also deduced that day to day changes
in the horizontal force of the earth's magnetism was simultaneous all over the
world and some of these changes he attributed to the moon while the others had
periodical changes once in 26 days, due the influence of sun. He also inferred
that the greater magnetic disturbances were due to actions proceeding from
certain meridians of the Sun. Mr. Broun established another Observatory on the
top of Agustia peak at a height of 6200 feet above the sea level. This is the
most conspicuous peak of the Western Chats that could be seen from any part of Trivandrum
and in this work.
Mr.Broun
had to overcome great difficulties arising from weather conditions and in
exploring a thick forest abounding in wild animals. Mr. Broun continued this
work till 1855, when he went to England. Afterwards according to the suggestion
of the Governor of Madras (Sir William Denison) the magnetic Observatory was
closed. He devoted the rest of his life for publishing the Trivandrum
Observations on Magnetism and Meteorology.
Although only one volume of
this was published during his lifetime, his complete works were published in
the transactions of the Royal Societies of Edinburgh and London, and also in
the Indian Meteorological Memoirs.
In
recognition of his meritorious work Mr.Broun was awarded the Keith Prize and
the Medal of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for 1859-61 and the Royal Medal of
the Royal Society of London in 1878. After the retirement of Mr. Broun the
working staff of the Observatory was considerably reduced and a few
meteorological observations alone were continued up to 1892, when Dr. Mitchell,
Professor of Mathematics in H.H. the Maharaja's College took charge as Honorary
Director of the Observatory. He introduced a scheme of rainfall measurement for
the whole state. In 1910 Mr. Stephenson, Professor of Physics succeeded
Dr. Mitchell as Director of the Observatory. He continued the work started by
Dr. Mitchell till 1920. During the later part of Mr. Stephenson's time, he had
also an assistant director, Mr. M. Rama Varma Raja, who was a highly
enthusiastic worker in the field of astronomy. In 1916 to 1919 Mr. Raja
published an astronomical ephemeris. In 1920 Dr. K. R. Ramanathan succeeded Mr.
Stephenson as Director. He arranged for the normals of a large number of
meteorological elements being computed up to date and he made a study about the
thunderstorm activity in Trivandrum. In 1922 Dr. Ramanathan left Travancore
service and Mr. Sivaramakrishna Iyer was confirmed as Honarary Director.
Self-recording instruments for meteorological measurements were fitted up
in1922 and the institution was recognized as a first class Meteorological
Observatory by the India Meteorological Department. In 1927, the
work of the Observatory was divided into two sections, Astronomical and
Meteorological, under the charge of the Government Astronomer Dr.H.Subramani
Iyer and the Government Meteorologist Mr. Sivaramakrishna Iyer then Director
respectively. From that time two independent sections started functioning
in the Observatory. With the creation of Astronomical Department, weekly
publication of astronomical notes giving the position of the Sun, Moon and the
planets for Trivandrum and details of other important celestial phenomena were
started. Other important works done during that period include Celestial
photography and from 1928 daily time signals being received by the use of a
wireless set. Till then, the mean time clock was standardized only by the star
observations with the 4-inch transit. Another change made in connection with
giving accurate time to the public was the system of firing accurate time to
the public, which was the system of firing time-gun by the use of an electrical
signal controlled by the clock room of the Observatory. Giving training to
students of colleges in studying sky and use of the astronomical instruments
started in 1932.In 1931 the Observatory building built by Mr. Broun and Dr.
Mitchell had to be dismantled as that spot had to be given over to Engineering
Department for the construction of a high level reservoir for distributing
water in various parts of the town. Thereupon Government sanctioned the
construction of a new building adjacent to high level reservior for locating
the Observatory, in addition to the part of the quarters of the Astronomer
built during the time of Mr.Broun. The five inch Equatorial has been shifted to
the top of the reservoir and is thus able to secure a better view of the sky
all round.
1937
In 1937, the centenary year of the Observatory, the University of
Travancore was established. On August 17,
1939 the Observatory was transferred to the control of this University. In
1940 the Meteorological and Astronomical sections were amalgamated.
In
1951, the meteorology section of the Observatory was taken over by Government
of India and Astronomical section by the State Government.
1976
On
January 1, 1976 the Government of Kerala decided to transfer the Observatory
back to the control of the University of Kerala. In the recent past, the
arrival of comet Ikeya-Zhang in 2002 and other astronomical events like
eclipses, occultations and transits have contributed in reviving the activities
of the Observatory.
The
rare planetary alignment in the western sky during May 2002 had given a boost
to the activities of the observatory and got wide coverage in newspapers and
television networks. University has decided to upgrade the activities of the Observatory
both in research and popularization of astronomy and is now equipped with good
computational facility, library and audio-video facilities. It is now possible
for few M.phil. /M.Sc. students to do their project work with these facilities.
With the present modern facilities like 11 inch telescope, CCD camera, Sun
workstations, image processing facility and collaboration with national
programmes, the Observatory will grow as one of the important centres in
astronomy and related fields in our country. The sky watching programmes for
students, teachers and the public in the evenings is being conducted on all
working days. This endeavour may fulfill the dream of Maharaja Swati Tirunal in
establishing a center of learning in astronomy at Thiruvananthapuram
Now let me share some of
the photos of Christmas celebrations in our department on 18th December
2014.
The
Christmas programme was quite awesome with participation of both faculties and
students. I believe that it was an eve where we find ourselves through the
teachings of Jesus Crist. It is extremely important that we spend time with
ourselves and look into what you are and why it is important to be judged by
yourselves. We shall wind up with a quote
"For in the way you judge,
you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure,
it will be measured to you”
On 19th
December, 2014 , a talk was arranged on Space Physics: Science of Space Travel
at 2:00 pm in Department Auditorium.
Even though,
there was absence of many of my beloved students, there was some handy
participation form Department of Chemistry. This program was an eye opening in
two aspects.
First
I understood that people who pursue physics with passion is very less and
outnumbered. Secondly, I really understand from the presence of Students from
chemistry that “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among
his own relatives and in his own household”. Amidst these, I did really enjoyed delivering the lecture.
And
Last but not least, I am giving you the link of the CSIR question Paper, December
2014. Start working for your dreams without excuses.
With
lots of love
Sibi
K S
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