General Awareness ยท 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 Indian research institute that has made significant contributions to the study of black hole accretion disks?

  1. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

  2. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

  4. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, India, has made significant contributions to the study of black hole accretion disks. IIA scientists have conducted extensive research on the physics of accretion disks, including their structure, dynamics, and emission properties.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian telescope that has been used to observe black holes and other compact objects?

  1. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

  2. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO)

  4. Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) is a radio telescope located in Pune, India. It has been used to observe black holes and other compact objects, including pulsars and active galactic nuclei. The GMRT has made significant contributions to the study of black hole jets and the evolution of galaxies.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian research center that has been involved in the development of gravitational wave detectors?

  1. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

  2. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

  4. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, India, has been involved in the development of gravitational wave detectors. TIFR scientists have contributed to the design and construction of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo detector, which have played a crucial role in the detection of gravitational waves.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian research institute that has been involved in the study of black hole mergers?

  1. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

  2. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

  4. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) in Pune, India, has been involved in the study of black hole mergers. NCRA scientists have conducted research on the dynamics and gravitational waves emitted during black hole mergers, contributing to our understanding of these cataclysmic events.

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

What is the primary instrument on the Chandra X-ray Observatory?

  1. High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS)

  2. Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS)

  3. High Resolution Camera (HRC)

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

The Chandra X-ray Observatory carries three primary instruments: the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS), the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS), and the High Resolution Camera (HRC).

Multiple choice

Which space telescope is known for its observations of gamma rays?

  1. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  2. Hubble Space Telescope

  3. Chandra X-ray Observatory

  4. Spitzer Space Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is designed to study gamma rays, which are the most energetic form of light.

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.