Observing Conditions


The reason for selecting this location is the belief that the climate and atmospheric conditions at Kodaikanal are specially favorable for research in Solar Physics. The location of Kodaikanal at 1 degree North of the Earth’s magnetic equator is useful for observing the phenomena in the ionosphere. Kodaikanal has the effect of both the monsoons. There is wet season from July to November and a dry season from Mid December to May. But there is a gap in September of about three weeks duration when the direction of Monsoon changes from south west to North east. This small gap of time is considered to be very good for solar observations until three to four hours after sunrise. During dry season there are some occasional showers, this eliminates the dust in the air and induces good to excellent seeing for solar observations. During the wet season the maximum chances of having clear skies is early in the morning when the definition is best for the day.hence, winter months provides good and plentiful sunshine for good seeing and solar observations.