NOVEL VENTURE: Noted Scientist and Director NIAS K. Kasturirangan inaugurating the observatory at St. Joseph's College in Bangalore on Saturday.

BANGALORE: K. Kasturirangan, Director of National Institute of Advanced Studies and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, has said that the 21st century is the "Century of astronomy".

He was speaking after inaugurating an exclusive observatory at St. Joseph's College here on Saturday.

Dr. Kasturirangan urged the students to develop an interest for the pure sciences. He said astronomy was one of the oldest sciences in the country. "We have explored only four per cent of the earth, while the rest remains unexplored. It is possible to explore and learn more only if young people show interest in pure sciences," he said. He said the ambiance for new explorations had been set and students should involve themselves in new innovations.

Science subjects such as nano science and astronomy were like public goods, he said. He asked students to develop professionalism and a scientific temperament. "The field of astronomy permits students to think originally and there is room for creativity," he added.

Dr. Kasturirangan said the telescope may be used to educate the general public. The public should be given the opportunity to experience the wonder of the night sky, he said.

India has all types of scientific instruments ranging from instruments measuring longest radio waves and those measuring shortest gama rays, he added.

The Lunar Mission, which investigates surface of the moon, will be launched in a couple of years, he added. The observatory has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh. A fully automatic telescope worth Rs. 3 lakh was sponsored by ISRO. A world class LX 200, Global Positioning System (GPS) Model telescope has been used in the observatory and the dome of the observatory was built using a special alloy imported from Japan. "The eight-inch telescope will show the exact location of a star when the name of the star is entered," said J.P. Abraham Samson, senior technical officer, Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Dr. Kasturirangan felicitated those involved in the project. Terence Farias, Rector of St. Joseph's Institutions; Ambrose Pinto, Principal of St. Joseph's College; and Achamma Thomas, Head of Physics Department, were present.

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