We are proud to present our 20-inch Telescope, which is
“100% Made in India“.
It’s almost ready and going to its home observatory at Meena Bagh, Ratnari in the Himalayas.
A quaint bungalow in a totally non touristic area. This is the apple bowl of India, Ratnari, Kotkhai. We will set up two big telescopes here. First the 20-inch Aperture Telescope which will remain here forever, and the 14-inch for two nights to see and photograph the Comet Leonard.
The final 150 metre journey of the 20-inch Aperture Telescope, to Meena Bagh, Ratnari.
The 20-inch Aperture Telescope installed at Meena Bagh, Ratnari, Himachal Pradesh. The staff of Meena Bagh were trained with the usage of the telescope.
The small village in the ‘Apple Bowl of India’, Ratnari. A paradise to watch the heavens, for an amateur astronomer like me. A large 20-inch telescope was with me to facilitate deep sky views.
The sky clarity was beautiful, I saw Venus and Jupiter at 3pm in the afternoon. Later at dusk there was a wonderful planet line-up. Bright Venus below, Saturn along with crescent Moon in the middle and Jupiter higher up.
The peak seen under the yellow dusk is Churdhar Peak.
A dreamy view from Meena Bagh!
You can book a room at this small bungalow/resort and observe the night sky with the 20-inch Aperture Telescope, a Dobsonian. The area is a wonderfully dark.
AHOY, all visual astronomers!
What are you looking for?
A Bortle-2 light pollution area? Or you could call it a “No Light Pollution area”!
An exclusive large aperture light bucket for you?
A cozy cottage close by?
All necessities of life on hand and on demand?
Well here is a such a wonderful place. We have just delivered our largest light bucket, a 20-inch Aperture Telescope to Meena Bagh, Ratnari in the Himalayas.
Meena Bagh – Ratnari is a farmstay in the middle of an apple orchard. For those looking for seclusion, tranquility, nature and space (both indoors and outdoors) here is a surreal experience of living in a Himachali home. With its stone, mud and wooden walls, the architecture is a mix of traditional Himachali and modern chalet aiming to incorporate local aesthetics with luxury.
And now you can walk out of your room and have the 20-inch available for night observations, all ready.
The two nights that I stayed at Meena Bagh were wonderful, and I was able to observe many deep sky wonders.
Heaven for visual amateur astronomers.
The 20-inch Aperture Telescope in the Himalayas,
Meena Bagh, Ratnari, Kotkhai, District Shimla – 171213.
How often can you find a large amateur telescope?
– Installed in the Himalayas?
– In a cosy resort?
– Open and accessible to all interested people, to book a room and observe through the telescope?
Only at the Meena Bagh, Ratnari. The first and the only 20-inch telescope available for everyone.
So ‘what-all’ and ‘how-much’ can you see through this 20-inch Aperture Telescope? The amount of celestial objects and their details visible depend on many factors, viz.
Aperture – The 20-inch is quite a large aperture. It collects a lot of light (proportional to the square of radius) and shows numerous deep sky objects even faint ones.
Focal Ratio – The focal ratio is f/4.5 which is considered FAST, and so the deep sky are brighter and seen better.
Resolution – is a function directly
proportional to the diameter of the primary. The 20-inch diameter mirror resolves planets in great detail.
Quality – The figure of the primary mirror is accurate to better than lambda/10 and brings objects to sharp focus without any aberration.
Ambient Light Pollution – Ratnari is in a Bortle-2 area, quite dark. Very few light around, so you can observe the heavens clearer and better.
Atmospheric steadiness – Mountain weather can be quite finicky in daytime, changing within minutes, with clouds, rain and wind. Generally during the winters, the atmosphere would remain very steady. During the summers, and late at night, the night chill would make the atmosphere steady, especially at dawn.
The Moon – Through the 20-inch the Moon is the most impressive target, in daytime and at night. Increase the magnification and the resolution seems limitless. With the 20-inch you will be able to resolve craters and features which are about ½ – 1 kilometres.
Planets – Three planets will show great detail on their surface, namely Jupiter, Saturn and Mars (mostly during opposition). Several Cloud bands on Jupiter and Saturn, Great Red Spot, Oval BA, shadows of satellites falling on Jupiter, Shadow of the rings on Saturn, dust storms on Mars will all be clearly visible routinely. In steady atmosphere you will be able to discern Olympus Mons on Mars.
Deep Sky Objects – almost limitless supply of deep sky objects in this 20-inch Aperture Telescope, and especially since the telescope is installed in a Bortle-2 area. Serious and experienced observers will definitely see more and more detail. This telescope will make you say ‘bye-bye astrophotography’.
Double stars – The quality of the figure on this mirror is good, rendering stars as sharp points without any aberration. If the telescope is collimated properly (preferably on a bright star), really close double stars would be resolved as separate. Try a difficult one – Sirius, not because of its closeness, but because of difference in brightness of Sirius and the ‘Pup’.
Necessities – Close at hand at Meena Bagh, much more than simple bare necessities of life, all available, so you can have a successful sky observation nights!
What more could you ask for?
