3 months ago
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The Tamil Nadu authorities connected Thursday announced the motorboat of the State’s archetypal Dark Sky Park astatine the Ariyur Shola Reserve Forest successful Kolli Hills, Namakkal district.
The inaugural was inaugurated by Forests Minister R.S. Rajakannappan successful the beingness of elder officials, including Environment, Climate Change and Forests Secretary Supriya Sahu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force Srinivas R. Reddy, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra.
As per an authoritative release, a Dark Sky Park is simply a protected scenery with minimal artificial airy pollution, enabling wide reflection of celestial bodies specified arsenic the moon, stars and planets. Officials said Kolli Hills, with its elevated terrain, dense wood screen and debased municipality airy disturbance, offers perfect conditions for night-sky preservation and astronomical observation.
The project, announced successful the Legislative Assembly connected June 25, 2024, was established astatine a outgo of ₹1 crore aft assessing ecological suitability and entity visibility astatine the Ariyur Shola Reserve Forest.
According to the Forest Department, the parkland is equipped with 3 precocious telescopes for structured sky-watching sessions and star panels to powerfulness onsite operations sustainably. The installation volition besides relation during daytime hours to beforehand technological literacy and consciousness connected astronomy among students, researchers and the public.
The merchandise said structured stargazing sessions volition beryllium organised regularly, and accommodation volition beryllium disposable astatine Agaya Gangai eco-huts.
While whole-night stargazing camps are planned 2 to 3 times a period during large astronomical events, peculiarly astir the caller satellite signifier for optimal visibility, options without overnight enactment volition besides beryllium offered.
Ms. Sahu said to guarantee the information of participants and the extortion of the landscape, lone 20 radical are allowed astatine a time. “It is simply a guided workout wherever the Forest Department volition supply protection. That country is wholly escaped from immoderate airy pollution,” she added.
