25 years of Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) proudly celebrates the Silver Jubilee of the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT), the Institute's flagship optical and near-infrared observational facility. To commemorate this significant milestone, IIA is organizing a scientific meeting from 29–31 July 2026, bringing together the HCT user community to celebrate the telescope's remarkable legacy and showcase some of the scientific achievements made possible over the past twenty-five years.

The establishment of the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle and the commissioning of the 2-meter Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) marked a new era in Indian astronomy. Building on its extensive experience in optical and infrared astronomy at the Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics identified the high-altitude (~ 4500 m)  cold desert of Hanle, Ladakh, as an exceptional site for a new generation of telescopes. Hanle offers some of the darkest and clearest skies in the world, with the dry, transparent atmospheric conditions essential for high-quality optical and near-infrared observations.

On 26 September 2000, the HCT captured its historic first-light image, marking the beginning of a remarkable scientific journey. Over the past twenty-five years, the telescope has served the Indian Astronomical community by providing high-quality optical and near-infrared data for cutting-edge research across a broad range of astrophysical disciplines. It has played a pivotal role in advancing India's observational astronomy capabilities while training generations of observational astronomers and instrumentalists. The long-term success of the HCT also established Hanle as a premier international site for astronomical observations, providing the technical expertise, infrastructure, and operational confidence needed for the development of larger, world-class telescope facilities in India.

Please note: Participation in this event is by invitation only. Formal invitations and the detailed program schedule will follow. A youtube link of the meeting will be sent before the event.