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KARACHI: Pakistan’s first automated observatory for the purpose of modern research in the domains of astronomy has been set up in the Department of Computer Information System at NED University.
This up and coming ground breaking observatory is promising to transform the way galaxy, planets and star are studied. It is the second facility of its kind in the metropolitan city of Karachi, the only other facility being the University of Karachi Astronomical observatory till recently. The new observatory is also furnished with some of the most complicated telescopes with 14 inches lenses and a telescope controlled through a Smartphone. Worth mentioning is the fact that this observatory will also be used in sighting ramazan crescent for the first time although the responsibility was hitherto in the hands of clerics-led moonsighting committees.
Speaking on the current topic, Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Ismail, Director, National Centre of Excellence in Big Data and Cloud Computing at NED University, brought focus on computerised observatories that are at a worldwide level. Talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Ismail informed that the NED observatory is one of its kinds in the world where all the optical telescopes webbed with computer systems and the data archive is stored in a dedicated data center.
”This innovative design facilitates the experimentations and research activities of the scholars without physically requiring them to be in the facility,” he further stated. “They can obtain important data from the Big Data and Cloud Computing Centre which is connected to the observatory,”
Further, he disclosed that NED University has been in contact with the space stations of such paramount organizations as NASA in terms of astronomical research. ”He also added that this collaboration would help in Mason extending the awful and depth of research performed at the observatory.
In addition to that, the developments in technology at the observatory also lies in research of the sun’s activities. Finally, during the interview with Bazmukhammed uul, Uzair Abid The Team Leader at the National Centre confirmed that the high-tech telescopes are also useful in collecting important information resources namely Solar spots.
