General Awareness ยท Physics

Indian Observatories and Astronomy

2,231 Questions

Indian observatories and astronomy questions cover national research institutions, space telescopes, radio telescopes, and historic astronomical events. These facts are highly relevant for the general awareness section of UPSC and state PSC exams. Solve these questions to memorize key observatories and their specific functions.

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Indian Observatories and Astronomy Questions

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 1985?

  1. TACT

  2. GRIT

  3. GRASP

  4. SIGMA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

TACT (Tracking and Correlation Telescope) was the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 1985.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 1995?

  1. GRASP

  2. SIGMA

  3. TACT

  4. GRIT
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

GRASP (Gamma-Ray Astronomy Payload) was the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 1995.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2005?

  1. SIGMA

  2. TACT

  3. GRIT

  4. GRASP
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

SIGMA (Solar Imaging Gamma-ray Array) was the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2005.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2010?

  1. TACT

  2. GRIT

  3. GRASP

  4. SIGMA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

TACT (Tracking and Correlation Telescope) was the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2010.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2015?

  1. GRASP

  2. SIGMA

  3. TACT

  4. GRIT
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

GRASP (Gamma-Ray Astronomy Payload) was the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2015.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2020?

  1. SIGMA

  2. TACT

  3. GRIT

  4. GRASP
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

SIGMA (Solar Imaging Gamma-ray Array) was the name of the Indian gamma-ray telescope that was flown on a balloon in 2020.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is a part of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN)?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

  4. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

ARIES is the nodal center for IAWN in India and is responsible for monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs).

Multiple choice

Which Indian telescope is used for asteroid observations as part of the IUSARP program?

  1. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

  2. Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO)

  4. Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

DOT is a 3.6-meter optical telescope located in Uttarakhand, India, and is used for asteroid observations under the IUSARP program.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the international asteroid survey telescope being built in India?

  1. Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

  2. Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT)

  3. Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)

  4. India-Taiwan Asteroid Survey Telescope (ITASAT)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

ITASAT is a joint project between India and Taiwan to build a 4-meter telescope dedicated to asteroid surveys.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is involved in the development of the Near-Earth Object Surveillance System (NEOSSat)?

  1. ISRO

  2. ARIES

  3. NCRA

  4. IIA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

ISRO is developing NEOSSat, a space-based telescope dedicated to detecting and tracking NEOs.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is a member of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN)?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

  4. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

ARIES is the nodal center for IAWN in India and is responsible for monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs).

Multiple choice

Which Indian telescope is used for asteroid observations as part of the IUSARP program?

  1. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

  2. Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO)

  4. Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

DOT is a 3.6-meter optical telescope located in Uttarakhand, India, and is used for asteroid observations under the IUSARP program.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian astronomical society that organizes conferences, workshops, and public outreach events to promote astronomy?

  1. Astronomical Society of India

  2. Indian Astronomical Union

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics

  4. Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) is a professional organization of astronomers in India. It organizes conferences, workshops, and public outreach events to promote astronomy and foster collaboration among astronomers.

Multiple choice

Which Indian city is known as the 'Astronomy Capital of India' due to its numerous observatories and astronomy-related institutions?

  1. Mumbai

  2. Bangalore

  3. Hyderabad

  4. Pune
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pune is known as the 'Astronomy Capital of India' due to its numerous observatories and astronomy-related institutions, including the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), and the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA).

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian astronomical observatory located in the Himalayas, known for its high-altitude observations?

  1. Hanle Observatory

  2. Udaipur Solar Observatory

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory

  4. ARIES
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hanle Observatory is an Indian astronomical observatory located in the Himalayas at an altitude of 4,500 meters. It is known for its high-altitude observations, which provide excellent conditions for studying celestial objects.