: This Ladakhis Stunning Photos Will Convince You to Build Sanctuaries For Dark Skies #IndiaNEWS #Ladakh Ever since 47-year-old Dorje Angchuk, the Engineer-in-charge of the Indian Astronomical Observatory

This Ladakhis Stunning Photos Will Convince You to Build Sanctuaries For Dark Skies #IndiaNEWS #Ladakh
Ever since 47-year-old Dorje Angchuk, the Engineer-in-charge of the Indian Astronomical Observatory at Hanle, became the first Indian to be inducted as an Honorary Member of the International Astronomical Union for his passionate promotion of astronomy in the Ladakh region, through his excellent astrophotography, there has been no shortage of media attention.
When approached by The Better India for an interview about his mesmeric astrophotography, Dorje’s initial response was, Media is making it too big and difficult for me. I just want to enjoy my hobby. ???
Nonetheless, he was kind enough to entertain our queries and explain in fascinating detail his hobby, the motivations behind it and prospects for Astro-tourism in Ladakh.
Image taken on 7th July 2021 at the Indian Astronomical Observatory with the 2 Mtr Himalayan Chandra Telescope providing a nice foreground. Jupiter on the top right, Saturn above the HCT and Milky Way playing their supporting role in this single shot.
Early Inspiration
Dorje’s first distinct memory of seeing the northern sky in its pristine glory came in 1986 when he was among the “few lucky kids??? invited to see the planet Saturn through a 20-inch telescope set up in the Skara area of Leh. A few years later, one of his father’s friends brought with him an astronomy guidebook. Although he doesn’t recall reading it thoroughly, he remembers the number of times he saw the pictures inside it.
Born and raised in the village of Spituk, Dorje did his schooling from Leh and Jammu before enrolling in a BE Electronics and Communication programme at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology Surat. During his final year in college, he witnessed the stunning Hale Bopp comet in 1997, which further piqued his interest in astronomy.
“When I finished college in 1998, I joined as a trainee engineer at the yet to be established Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) operated in Hanle by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. After working as a trainee engineer for two years, I was given a full-time job in 2000. In June 2001, the IAO was established. Since 2008, I’ve been the engineer-in-charge at the observatory,??? says Dorje.
His primary task at IAO is to maintain the IIA telescope with assistance from five fellow engineers and a scientist. In the past, Dorje and his team would visit the site at Hanle (an eight-hour journey from Leh) and spend three weeks at a stretch every month. However, after stabilising the telescope, the number of days spent at the observatory came down as the telescope could be operated remotely from Hoskote, near Bengaluru.
Leh and our celestial universe from Khardungla
In 2009 Dorje met the man who would inspire his sojourn into astrophotography Ajay Talwar.

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