Thursday, January 12 2006 17:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Porbandar: President A P J Abdul Kalam today (Jan 12,2006) said that India needs to blend ancient astronomical scientific discoveries with modern astronomical advancement so that it could bring out its core competence in the field of astronomy.

Inaugurating a science museum at the Sandipani ashram here, Kalam said, "When the earth's dynamics in relation to the our Sun and our galaxy are referred only names of three astronomer Copernicus, Gallelio and Kepler emerge while Indian greats like Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya and other astronomers are not referred to."

Giving examples about the progress that Indian astronomical laboratories have achieved, Kalam mentioned of the Giant Metre Wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) built by Tata Institute of Fundemental Research (TIFR) in Khodad village, 80 km from Pune.

"Because of the unique capabilities of our GMRT, scientists from all over the world, including USA and Canada visit the center to conduct collaborative experiments. Our scientists have played a leading role in the recent discovery of a new binary milli second pulsar," the President said.

"A pulsar is the remnant of a star which exploded leaving behind a sphere madeup of neutrons just 20 km in size but weighing more than the sun", the President said.

"The pulsar emits radio waves which become very weak when they reach earth. One needs GMRT to detect the pulsar," he added.

Another example of Indian astronomer's contribution to the field given by Kalam was that of the world's highest observatory for infrared studies located in Bigparatsa Ri in Ladhak, at an altitude of 4,500 metres above sea level and has a two metre optical infrared telescope.

Modern astronomy has to have linkage with ancient astronomy and this fusion of thought may lead to new discoveries in astronomy science and mathematics, he said.

"I would suggest the promoters of ancient science and astronomers from these two institutions of India and other institutions that the world can come to join study and enrichthe capacities of astronomy," Kalam said.