NR Narayana Murthy's son Rohan Murty puts $1 million in astronomy project

Rohan Murty, son of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy is backing an unique robotic astronomy project which can robotically help execute complex astronomical tasks. He and his family are providing $1 million to help run and operate the robotic system.

The project which was previously housed at the California Insititure of Tevhnology (Caltech) is now being moved to the Kitt Peak National Obsevatory in Arizona, where it’s intended to help a 2.1-meter telescope make new discoveries.

The Robo-AO project is made up of a system which allows it to erase a typical blurring effect created by the atmosphere, enabling space observers to view the solar system more clearly and is thus being billed as the ‘world’s only robotic laser adaptive optics system’

This project was co-developed by the the Caltech Optical Observatories and the the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, about three years ago.

"Automating the discovery of the universe impacts one of mankind's oldest activities: to look up at the heavens and wonder about our place in the universe," Murty told ET

"This activity has been the source of inspiration for religion, poetry, literature, science, and culture in general. Hence, I am pleased to support a dedicated telescopic facility for Robo-AO, which will serve as a new frontier for what computer science can do for astronomy and for mankind, in general,” he added.

Image credit: Indiatimes