BINA

DOT@ARIES

The 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope is a custom-built instrument of great complexity. This telescope has the distinction of being largest telescope in India for study of celestial objects at optical wavelengths. It is a national facility installed at Devasthal in the district of Nainital, India. It was commissioned in the year 2016 and is being maintained and operated by ARIES. The 3.6m DOT facility consists of a modern 3.6 meter optical new technology telescope, a suite of instruments, an Aluminium coating plant, a control room and a data center. The back-end instruments of telescope provide spectral and imaging capabilities at visible and near-infrared bands.

The observing time on 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope is apportioned as follows : 60% open time on competitive basis to any astronomer working in an Indian Institution; 33% guaranteed time for astronomers from ARIES and 7% guaranteed time for Belgian astronomers subject to the scientific merit of the proposals. About 10% of the available science time, will be reserved as Director’s Discretionary Time for allocation by the Director, ARIES.