General Awareness · Physics

Indian Observatories and Astronomy

2,525 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 neutrino observatory located in India, which is under construction?

  1. India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)

  2. Neutrino Observatory at Pyhäsalmi (NOP)

  3. Kamioka Liquid Scintillator Antineutrino Detector (KamLAND)

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

The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is a large-scale neutrino observatory currently under construction in India. It aims to study neutrino oscillations and other neutrino-related phenomena.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the dark matter experiment located in India, which is currently operational?

  1. LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ)

  2. XENONnT

  3. PandaX-4T

  4. DarkSide-20k
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

Currently, there is no operational dark matter experiment located in India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is involved in the construction of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), a global initiative for gamma-ray astronomy?

  1. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

  2. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  3. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

TIFR, IIA, and PRL are all involved in the construction of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), contributing to the study of gamma-ray astronomy.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian experiment designed to study the properties of cosmic rays at high energies?

  1. High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope (HAGAR)

  2. Himalayan Cosmic Ray Observatory (HiCOR)

  3. Large Area Telescope (LAT)

  4. Pierre Auger Observatory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope (HAGAR) is an Indian experiment located in the Himalayas, designed to study the properties of cosmic rays at high energies.

Multiple choice

What was the name of the ancient Indian astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II?

  1. Jantar Mantar

  2. Rashtrapati Bhavan

  3. Red Fort

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

Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th century AD.

Multiple choice

The Birla Planetarium in which Indian city features an exhibit on the contributions of Indian mathematicians to astronomy and cosmology?

  1. Kolkata

  2. Hyderabad

  3. Jaipur

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

The Birla Planetarium in Kolkata, West Bengal, has an exhibit dedicated to the contributions of Indian mathematicians to astronomy and cosmology, highlighting their significant discoveries and theories.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian gravitational wave observatory?

  1. LIGO India

  2. VIRGO India

  3. Einstein Telescope India

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

LIGO India is a gravitational wave observatory located in India, part of the international Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is actively involved in the study of black holes and cosmology?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics

  2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

  3. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All of the mentioned institutions are actively involved in the study of black holes and cosmology in India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is home to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics

  2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) is located at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics in Pune, India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is home to the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics

  2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) is located at the University of Pune, India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is renowned for its contributions to the development of advanced astronomical instrumentation?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

  3. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

  4. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

TIFR, particularly its Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS), has played a leading role in the development of innovative astronomical instrumentation, including the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).

Multiple choice

Which Indian-made instrument is part of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)?

  1. Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec)

  2. Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)

  3. Tunable Filter Imager (TFI)

  4. Fine Guidance Sensor/Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) is an Indian-made instrument that is part of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It is designed to study the chemical composition and physical properties of distant galaxies and exoplanets.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian-led project that aims to build a next-generation radio telescope?

  1. Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

  2. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

  3. Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA)

  4. Very Large Telescope (VLT)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is an international project led by India, Australia, and South Africa to build the world's largest radio telescope. It aims to revolutionize our understanding of the universe by exploring cosmic mysteries and detecting faint radio signals.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian-led project that aims to study the cosmic microwave background radiation?

  1. Cosmic Microwave Background Experiment (CMBEx)

  2. Dark Energy Survey (DES)

  3. Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)

  4. Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Cosmic Microwave Background Experiment (CMBEx) is an Indian-led project that aims to study the cosmic microwave background radiation, the leftover radiation from the Big Bang. It is designed to probe the early universe and investigate fundamental cosmological parameters.

Multiple choice

Which Indian institution is responsible for operating the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

  3. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

  4. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), is responsible for operating the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).