NIT-Srinagar to become first NIT with campus observatory, 14-inch telescope

Srinagar: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar is set to become the first NIT in the country to have a dedicated campus-based observatory equipped with a 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, officials said on Monday.

The NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA) will be inaugurated on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, marking a milestone in science education and research.

The observatory has been developed with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and will give students hands-on access to astronomical observation and imaging.

The telescope provides aberration-free, flat-field images for astrophotography and planetary observation, officials said.