Pakistan's first computerised observatory set up at NED

Facility equipped with mobile-app controlled telescope

KARACHI:

Pakistan's first computerised observatory for advanced astronomical research has been set up at NED University's Department of Computer Information Systems.

This observatory is poised to revolutionise the study of galaxies, planets, and stars. It is the second such facility in Karachi, complementing the observatory at the University of Karachi, which until now has been the only place in the metropolitan city dedicated to astronomical research.

The new observatory is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes, including a 14-inch lens and a mobile-app controlled telescope, offering an unprecedented level of accessibility and precision in astronomical observation. The observatory will also serve as a key venue for sighting the Ramazan crescent for the first time, a task until now being performed by clerics-led moonsighting committees.

Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Ismail, Director of the National Centre for Big Data and Cloud Computing at NED University, spoke about the importance of computerised observatories on an international scale. While speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Ismail explained that the NED observatory is one of the few of its kind worldwide, where all telescopes are integrated with computer systems and data is stored in a centralised data centre.

"This state-of-the-art setup means researchers no longer have to visit the observatory in person to conduct their work," he added. "Instead, they can access valuable data remotely via the Big Data and Cloud Computing Centre, which is connected to the observatory.

Dr Ismail revealed that the NED University is engaging with international space agencies, including Nasa, to collaborate on astronomical research projects. "This collaboration promises to expand the reach and scope of the research conducted at the observatory," he added.

The observatory's technological advancements don't stop at just telescopic observation. Uzair Abid, Team Leader at the National Centre, said that the observatory's high-tech telescopes also gather data on solar activity, specifically solar spots.