DESCRIPTION
The Devsthal Observatory is a new astronomical site in India, located at an altitude of 2450 meters in the Kumaun region of the Himalayas in the district Nainital in the state of Uttarakhand. It is operated by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES; Nainital, India) and hosts three telescopes: a 1.3-m optical telescope and two so-called Indo-Belgian telescopes. The 3.6-m Devsthal Optical Telescope has received this status because it has been constructed by AMOS (Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems; Liège, Belgium) with financial support of 2,000,000 € from the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO; Govt. of Belgium). In return for the financial aid, 7% of the telescope time of DOT is reserved for projects lead by Belgian astronomers. The 4-m International Liquid Mirror Telescope is a Belgian initiative led by members of the University of Liège in collaboration with institutes in India (ARIES; Nainital) and Canada (Québec, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria).
The "Belgo-Indian Network for Astronomy and Astrophysics" (BINA) was established in 2014 with the goal of fostering collaboration between Indian and Belgian astronomers (Partners). It aims to promote the optimal use of Indo-Belgian telescopes, as well as other telescopes and satellites of interest (Instrumentation), in order to maximize scientific discoveries related to solar system, galactic, and extragalactic celestial objects (Projects and Publications). Approved in 2016 by the International Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST, Govt. of India) and BELSPO, the project received funding that supported network activities such as joint workshops and work visits to strengthen collaborations and the astronomical communities in both countries (Activities). Although the initial funding has concluded, BINA continues to serve as a vital platform for stimulating Indo-Belgian collaborations in astronomical instrumentation and space sciences.
