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#India’s journey into high-resolution #solar #astronomy was profoundly shaped by Prof. Parameswaran Venkatakrishnan, a pioneering solar #physicist whose vision and dedication led to the development of the 50 cm Multi-Application Solar Telescope (#MAST) at the #Udaipur Solar #Observatory (#USO).

Beginning his #scientific career in 1974 at the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, he earned his #PhD from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (#IIA) in 1984 and later served as a senior #professor and head of USO from 1999 to 2005.

His groundbreaking research on solar #magnetic fields, including a #landmark 1986 #Nature paper on the convective collapse of magnetic flux tubes, garnered #international acclaim.

He played a crucial role in conceptualising #Aditya-L1, India's first dedicated solar observatory in space, and continued to contribute as a visiting professor at the U. R. Rao Satellite Centre post-retirement.

Beyond his scientific #achievements, he was passionate about #ScienceCommunication, authoring #books such as Our Daytime #Star: A Brief #History of the #Sun, The Amazing #Story of Kuton the #Photon, and Off to an #Eclipse to popularise solar #science.

Prof. Venkatakrishnan's recent passing is a significant loss to the scientific community, but his legacy endures through his contributions to solar physics and the many students he mentored.


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