JAKARTA – Head of the National Aeronautics Institute (EIGHT Thomas Djamaluddin said that until now the construction of a national observatory (Obnas) on Mount Timau, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), is still being carried out.
However, for the dome material, Thomas admits that it has not been installed because it is still stuck in Kupang due to inadequate road conditions.
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“The NTT Provincial Government has repaired several roads. KemPUPR is currently completing the remaining roads to the location. Hopefully it will finish soon, ”said Thomas in his short message to MNC Portal Indonesia, Wednesday (19/5/2021).
After the road problem is resolved, the dome material will be immediately sent to the site for installation. Furthermore, the telescope will be sent from Japan and installed in the dome.
“Hopefully everything is on target,” he said.
Meanwhile, LAPAN’s Public Relations Coordinator, Jasyanto, said the main telescope facility building where the observatory is currently almost ready, is around 90%.
Until now, his party is working on the construction of telescopes and other supporting facilities. LAPAN, said Jasyanto, would focus on building national observatory research facilities, such as telescopes.
“LAPAN is particularly related to telescope research facilities and others. But in the future, of course, there will also be construction of public facilities, “he said when contacted separately.
It is known, LAPAN is targeting the construction of the largest obsnas in Southeast Asia to be completed in 2021.
The Mount Timau area was chosen as the location for the observatory construction because it requires an area that is free of light and air pollution.
With the existence of a national observatory in Kupang, it is hoped that the area will become a sky tourist spot which can certainly improve the surrounding economy.
The observatory will be equipped with a telescope measuring 380 cm which is large for the Asia Pacific region and is very useful for space research.
The Observatory on Mount Timau is the first Dark Sky National Park in Indonesia as well as the largest observatory in Southeast Asia. Once completed, the observatory on Mount Timau will also feature the largest telescope in Southeast Asia.
If now the Bosscha Observatory in Lembang, Bandung, is already “surrounded” by settlements, yes not Observatory this. Due to its location in the middle of a protected forest, there are no other buildings near the observatory that can cause light and air pollution.
(wbs)
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