Talacauvery is South India’s top ‘star party’ destination

Subject :Geography

Context:

Talacauvery in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, which is considered the place of origin of the Cauvery River, has emerged as South India’s Hanle, as astronomers are seen hosting “star parties” in the region.
Hanle, which is situated in Ladakh, is famous for its pristine skies and minimal light pollution.
The Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology, announced the establishment of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve at Hanle.
The Department of Science and Technology and Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru are providing support for the facility. The IIA already manages the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) complex in Hanle, Ladakh.
In southern parts of India, most dark sky locations are located amidst the Western Ghats and Talacauvery is said to be the most ideal location to gaze at the sky and have a star party due to less light pollution.

Bortle Scale

Astronomers use the Bortle scale to measure the brightness of the night sky in a location that is a nine-level numerical scale.
The lower the numerical scale the better would be the dark sky location.
Example: Hanle would qualify as a Bortle one sky, Talacauvery as Bortle two, and Bengaluru as Bortle nine.

Dark Sky Reserve

A Dark Sky Reserve is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference.
A dark sky reserve requires a “core” area that has clear sky without any light pollution, which can enable telescopes to see the sky in its natural darkness.
The International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) defines an international dark sky reserve (IDSR) as “a public or private land of substantial size (at least 700 km², or about 173,000 acres) possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment, and that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.
The International Dark Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit that designates places as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves, depending on the criteria they meet.