Postage stamp released to mark Kodaikanal Solar Observatory’s 125th anniversary at IIA

Bengaluru: The Department of Posts released a postal stamp on Friday at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.

Established on April 1, 1899, the observatory has been a cradle of research in solar astrophysics, with a number of path-breaking discoveries to its credit. The observatory had kicked off its year-long quasquicentennial (125th anniversary) celebrations on April 1, last year.

Operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory has one of the longest continuous daily records of the sun. This database has now been digitised and is publicly available for astronomers from across the globe.

Former Isro chairman, AS Kiran Kumar, and chief postmaster general, Karnataka Circle, S Rajendra Kumar, issued the stamp in the presence of Usha Dixit from the Department of Science and Technology; former IIA directors Prof Ramanath Cowsik and Prof S Sirajul Hasan; and Director of IIA, Prof Annapurni Subramaniam.

Dignitaries release the stamp at IIA Bengaluru on Friday. PHOTO: IIA

The stamp features the observatory’s iconic building that has two domes.

The dome on the right hosts a six-inch telescope, which was installed at the Madras Observatory in 1850, remodelled in 1898, and installed at Kodaikanal in 1900 by the then director, Michie Smith.

The dome on the left hosts an eight-inch telescope that was installed at the Madras Observatory in 1866, and brought to Kodaikanal in 1930.

The stamp also features an image of the sun taken at the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory on May 6, 2024.

A commemorative stamp like this, issued on special occasions, will not be reprinted. It will soon be available for purchase at the various Philately Bureaus across Karnataka.