In Ancient India there had been the greatest
of Astronomy like Aryabhatt, Bhaskaracharya who had done practical and theoretical
work. All though in India the history of observateries is not very old, yet their
contribution is not of less significance. Out of these U.P. government observatories
which was transferred from Varanasi to Nainital in 1954, is remarkable. In the
light of above quoted importance of Astrophysics U.P.S.O. wanted to establish
its sub centre some where in U.P. Where besides the teaching of Astrophysics,
it should be generalized among the common people. U.P.S.O. selected Gorakhpur
University in the year 2000 its sub centre. This decision, being executed, supported
in the name of Devendra Sharma Centre for Astrophysical Studies.
Physics
Department of Gorakhpur University a few years after its establishment had started
teaching Astrophysics at Post graduate level. It was very difficult task, but
then head of department Prof. Devendra Sharma on the one hand equipped the Astrophysics
Lab with 8 cm. reflector telescope and 2 mt. concave gravity spectrograph and
on the other he laid the foundation stone of research programmes in collaboration
with U.P.S.O. At present the department has the lab of theodolite and 25 cm. telescope.
Besides with the collaboration of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
(IIA) and Inter University Centre for Astrophysics (IUCAA, Pune) researches are
being carried on. In getting reorganization as an important research institute
of the country and to maintain its standard, one development has been successful
by doing research work on Einstein's theory of gravitation and other theoretical
topics of Astrophysics.
Chief Aim of this Centre
1) To give higher
education to the students studying in Gorakhpur University in practical aspects
of physics (optical and radio).
2) To create interest in the boys and the people
in studying Astrophysics by utilizing the experience and specialized knowledge
available in the department.
3) To carry on research work in collaboration
with top most observatories of the country like U.P.S.O., Nainital and N.C.R.A.,
Pune.
4) It is to be kept in mind that due to revolution in information technology,
cooperative programmes is a necessity of the time. Thus the centre will be the
focus form of observatory and teaching institute.
The study of heavenly
bodies through radio telescope working in radio region, will be another topic
of the centre. Many important heavenly bodies like the Sun, Pulsar, Quasars and
Galaxies are the chief emitter of the radio region and it will be necessary to
study their texture, their source and also physical process used in it. The introduction
of radio telescope is very new rather than optical telescope. In India research
work in Astrophysics was started by T.I.F. in 1964 under the dynamic leadership
of Padmashri Prof. Govind Swarup F.R.S. This team established its first radio
telescope in 1965 at Kalyan (Mumbai). Afterwards this team established a big telescope
in 1970 at Ooty. The credit of making the national G.M.R.T. telescope which is
the biggest telescope of the world working in 100-1500 MHz, goes to this team.
It is really a matter great pride at G.M.E.R.T. is ready to cooperate with Devendra
Sharma Centre for Astrophysical Studies in statistical analysis to establish the
centres resolution of 4 mt. diameter dish antenna.
The resolved telescope
at Ooty, Pune and Gorakhpur, would be able to present high class research work
and very long line interferometry analysis, after this harmonious statistical
analysis.
