A Mini – Observatory was setup on the terrace of School of Physics new building, which was inaugurated by Prof. B. J. Rao, Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on April 2, 2024.
The observatory houses a Mead LX 200 telescope with accessories. A student group called ‘Zenith Astronomy club’, run by research scholars will ensure the periodic sky viewing using this observatory.
The observatory was named in memory of Dr. Nandivada Ratnashree, who was an alumnus of School of Physics in 1986. She was serving as Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in New Delhi till 2021, when she passed away due to Covid related complications.
Dr. Ratnashree was instrumental in creating enthusiasm about astronomy in thousands of youngsters. She was also instrumental in restoration of the Jantar Mantar observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjaini and Varanasi.
Dr. Nandivada Ratnashree