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Why in the News?
India will establish the country’s first Dark Sky Reserve in the Ladakh by the end of 2022.
Key Points:
- The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has announced the setting up of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve in Hanle, Ladakh in the next three months.
Dark Sky Reserve:
- About: It is a public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that has been developed responsibly to prevent light pollution.
- It consist of a core area meeting minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core.
- Location: Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Developed by: Ladakh administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
How does a site become a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’?
- Individuals or groups can nominate a site for certification to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA).
- IDSA is a U.S.-based non-profit that designates places as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves.
Objective: To promote astronomy tourism in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner.
Reason for selecting Ladakh:
- Cold desert with high mountainous terrains.
- Long and harsh winters with minimum temperatures.
- Aridity, limited vegetation, high elevation and large areas with sparse populations.
All these factors make it the perfect setting for long-term astronomical observatories and dark sky places.
