The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) celebrated Founders’ Day on 10 August 2026, commemorating the centenary birth anniversary of Dr. M. K. Vainu Bappu, one of the pioneers of modern astronomy in India, and honouring his enduring vision, scientific contributions, and legacy. The occasion brought together the IIA community to remember the life and achievements of its founder and to reflect on the remarkable foundations he laid for astronomical research in India. The celebrations commenced with a solemn tribute to Dr. M. K. Vainu Bappu through the garlanding of his portrait. Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairperson, Axilor Ventures and Co-founder of…

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has taken an important step towards preserving and providing access to its rich institutional and scientific heritage by launching its Archival Portal. The portal was officially launched by Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairperson, Axilor Ventures and Co-founder, Infosys, in the presence of Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, IIA, during the Founder’s Day marking M.K. Vainu Bappu’s birth centenary. Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan launching the IIA Archival Portal along with Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam. Explore the IIA Archival Portal: IIA Archives The new Archival Portal brings these efforts together and provides users with an accessible platform to explore the…

On 21 February 2026, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) celebrated National Science Day through its annual Open Day at the Koramangala campus in Bengaluru. The event, held from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, received an overwhelming response from the public, with more than 8,000 visitors attending throughout the day. Students, teachers, families, and science enthusiasts gathered to explore the fascinating world of astronomy and learn more about the research activities of the institute. As part of this celebration, the IIA Library & Archives team organized a special exhibition highlighting the institute’s rich astronomical heritage. The exhibition aimed to introduce…

The importance of periodicity in sunspot appearance was well recognized by the mid-19th century. It marked a significant milestone in our understanding of solar activity and its broader implications for the Earth’s climate and space weather. By observing and documenting the cyclical nature of sunspots, astronomers began to unlock the patterns of solar behaviour, laying the groundwork for modern solar physics. The process of creating these sun charts was intricate. Astronomers would observe the Sun through telescopes equipped with special filters to protect their eyes and reveal specific features of the solar surface. They would then sketch what they saw,…

The IIA Library and Archives actively participated in the IIA Open Day by setting up a stall to showcase their diverse collection and services. Engaging attendees with informative posters and exhibits, the team highlighted the wealth of resources available at the library and the historical significance of the archives’ materials. The major exhibits highlighted the historical background of IIA from its establishment as a private observatory under William Petrie in Madras to the final shift of headquarters to Bangalore. The contributions of John  Evershed and Norman Pogson were featured in the exhibition along with the photometer and the transit circle….

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics is commemorating the 115th anniversary of the pioneering discovery of the Evershed Effect in 1909 at the Kodaikanal Observatory. This milestone in solar physics, rooted in India, highlights the institute’s rich history spanning over 200 years, during which it has served as a hub for theoretical and observational studies of celestial bodies and the development of specialized instrumentation. The discovery of the “Evershed Effect” represented a significant advancement in Astrophysics, marking the initial observation of the interaction between plasma and magnetic fields. This discovery greatly enhanced our understanding of sunspot characteristics and the evolution of…

Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space-based observatory to study the Sun from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from Earth. On September 2, 2023, at 11.50 hrs, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) successfully launched the Aditya-L1 spacecraft from the Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. The Aditya-L1 mission carries a suite of seven scientific payloads to carry out a systematic study of the Sun. The payloads of Aditya-L1 are indigenously developed by different laboratories in the country. VELC, the main payload on Aditya-L1, was…

The scientific community is commemorating the Centenary celebration of the 1922 Indian expedition to Wallal, Australia, to observe a solar eclipse. Albert Einstein published his Theory of Relativity, arguing that gravitational objects with gravitational influence warped spacetime around them. On September 1922, a group of renowned astronomers conducted an expedition on a remote shore in Wallal, Western Australia, to test this theory. Observing the deviation of starlight caused by the Sun during total solar eclipses was an opportunity to corroborate the experimental proof of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This expedition group included W.W. Campbell, J. Evershed (Kodaikanal Observatory), C.A….

IIA celebrated the golden jubilee of The 40-inch telescope at IIA Main Campus and Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO), Kavalur. This meeting highlighted the facility’s accomplishments over the last 50 years and honoured our esteemed guests involved in the 40-inch telescope installation. IIA library actively participated and showcased the resources during the event. The event commences with talks by renowned guests and its alumnus on various topics. The event also welcomes with all its astonishing posters and standees, which the library team voluntarily took the responsibility to prepare the best possible way to present the event in an eye-catching way. The…

Imagine stepping into a gallery where centuries of astronomical discovery and heritage come to life- not by walking through the grand halls of a museum, but through the screen of your device, from the comfort of your home. This immersive experience is exactly what the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) offers through its Online Archives Exhibition, a remarkable digital initiative launched as part of the Institute’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Created to honor fifty years of groundbreaking contributions to astronomy and astrophysics, the exhibition provides a window into the rich scientific legacy stored in the Institute’s archives. Through carefully curated documents,…