Goa: Panaji observatory eyes solar energy for its power needs

PANAJI: A solar energy model has been proposed for the second phase of the renovations at the astronomical observatory in Panaji.
“The second phase of renovation which will be taken up later will involve making the premises self-sufficient with clean solar energy. We have proposed a solar energy museum, a sundial garden, a weather forecasting station, a scale solar system and more,” said president of the Association of Friends of Astronomy (AFA), Satish Nayak.
Goa: Panaji observatory eyes solar energy for its power needs
There will also be an installation of the latitude and longitude of Panaji for visitors to observe from the meridian of the city. The observatory will also have a
reception area where telescopes and sky charts will be kept for visitors.
The astronomical observatory in Panaji is situated on the terrace of Junta House, Panaji but was without any enclosed space for its activities. TOI had reported on Friday that the first phase is already complete making the observatory equipped with a mini auditorium, library, observation deck, fully automated dome housing the C-14 telescope, among other facilities.
The mini auditorium will be named after AFA founder, Percival Noronha while the library will be named after Aryabhatta – the mathematician and astronomer from the classical age.
“Noronha started the observatory with small requests like drinking water and toilet facilities, and after years of struggle we are here. It was his dream to see the observatory equipped with more facilities,” Nayak said.
Founded in 1982, the administration of the AFA was carried out from Percival Noronha’s private residence. It was only in 2005 that the state government took cognisance of the decades long request and allotted a room on the fifth floor of the Junta House premises to set up the administrative office for the observatory.
In 2016, Alina Saldanha, the then minister for science and technology, initiated the procedure for the upgradation work to be undertaken by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation. While the paperwork and grant of funds took a few years, the work started only to hit a roadblock due to the pandemic in 2020. It is only this year the first phase of the new observatory stands completed.