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

Which observatory is known for its studies of gravitational waves?

  1. Jantar Mantar

  2. Ujjain Observatory

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory

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

LIGO India is located in Hanle, Ladakh. It is a part of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project and is known for its studies of gravitational waves, including observations of the merger of black holes and neutron stars.

Multiple choice

Which observatory is located in Hosakote, Karnataka?

  1. Jantar Mantar

  2. Ujjain Observatory

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory

  4. Vainu Bappu Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Vainu Bappu Telescope (VBT) is located in Hosakote, Karnataka. It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and is known for its studies of optical astronomy and astrophysics.

Multiple choice

Which observatory is known for its studies of the Sun?

  1. Jantar Mantar

  2. Ujjain Observatory

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory

  4. Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) is located in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and is known for its studies of the Sun, including observations of sunspots, solar flares, and solar prominences.

Multiple choice

Which observatory is located in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Jantar Mantar

  2. Ujjain Observatory

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory

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

The Pachmarhi Observatory is located in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. It is operated by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences and is known for its studies of astronomy and astrophysics.

Multiple choice

Which observatory is known for its studies of gamma-ray bursts?

  1. Jantar Mantar

  2. Ujjain Observatory

  3. Vainu Bappu Observatory

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

AstroSat is a space observatory launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is known for its studies of gamma-ray bursts, X-ray astronomy, and optical astronomy.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer M.K. Vainu Bappu in 1953?

  1. Comet Bappu-Bok

  2. Comet Hale-Bopp

  3. Comet Hyakutake

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Bappu-Bok was discovered by Indian astronomer M.K. Vainu Bappu and American astronomer Bart J. Bok in 1953. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 10 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer S.K. Biswas in 1982?

  1. Comet Biswas

  2. Comet Hyakutake

  3. Comet Hale-Bopp

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Biswas was discovered by Indian astronomer S.K. Biswas in 1982. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 6 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer V.S. Venkatasubramanian in 1999?

  1. Comet Venkatasubramanian

  2. Comet Hale-Bopp

  3. Comet Hyakutake

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Venkatasubramanian was discovered by Indian astronomer V.S. Venkatasubramanian in 1999. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 7 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer S.K. Biswas in 1983?

  1. Comet Biswas

  2. Comet Hyakutake

  3. Comet Hale-Bopp

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Biswas was discovered by Indian astronomer S.K. Biswas in 1983. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 7 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer V.S. Venkatasubramanian in 2000?

  1. Comet Venkatasubramanian

  2. Comet Hale-Bopp

  3. Comet Hyakutake

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Venkatasubramanian was discovered by Indian astronomer V.S. Venkatasubramanian in 2000. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 8 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer S.K. Biswas in 1984?

  1. Comet Biswas

  2. Comet Hyakutake

  3. Comet Hale-Bopp

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Biswas was discovered by Indian astronomer S.K. Biswas in 1984. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 9 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the comet that was discovered by Indian astronomer V.S. Venkatasubramanian in 2001?

  1. Comet Venkatasubramanian

  2. Comet Hale-Bopp

  3. Comet Hyakutake

  4. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Venkatasubramanian was discovered by Indian astronomer V.S. Venkatasubramanian in 2001. It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of about 10 years.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a type of telescope?

  1. Refracting telescope

  2. Reflecting telescope

  3. Radio telescope

  4. X-ray telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Radio telescopes are not telescopes in the traditional sense, as they do not use lenses or mirrors to focus light. Instead, they use radio waves to detect and study celestial objects.

Multiple choice

What is the largest optical telescope in the world?

  1. Gran Telescopio Canarias

  2. Keck I and Keck II telescopes

  3. Subaru Telescope

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

The Gran Telescopio Canarias is the largest optical telescope in the world, with a primary mirror diameter of 10.4 meters.

Multiple choice

What is the largest optical telescope in the world?

  1. Gran Telescopio Canarias

  2. Keck I and Keck II telescopes

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The largest optical telescope in the world is the Gran Telescopio Canarias, located on the Canary Islands in Spain.