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

Which Indian organization is collaborating with the SETI Institute to search for technosignatures, or signs of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. Raman Research Institute (RRI)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

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

IIA, RRI, and NCRA are all collaborating with the SETI Institute to search for technosignatures.

Multiple choice

Which Indian organization is collaborating with the Breakthrough Listen initiative to search for extraterrestrial radio signals?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. Raman Research Institute (RRI)

  3. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

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

IIA, RRI, and NCRA are all collaborating with the Breakthrough Listen initiative.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Indian telescope located in the Himalayas?

  1. Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

  2. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

  3. Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

  4. Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) is a high-altitude gamma-ray telescope located in the Himalayas. It is designed to study high-energy gamma rays from celestial sources and contribute to the understanding of cosmic phenomena such as supernovae, active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts.

Multiple choice

Which of the following telescopes is used to study exoplanets using the microlensing method?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

  4. OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) is a survey that uses the microlensing method to detect exoplanets.

Multiple choice

Which of the following telescopes is used to study exoplanets using the direct imaging method?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. VLT (Very Large Telescope)

  4. ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The VLT (Very Large Telescope) is a set of four telescopes located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. It is used to study exoplanets using the direct imaging method.

Multiple choice

Which of the following telescopes is used to study exoplanets using the gravitational microlensing method?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

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

The Subaru Telescope is a large ground-based telescope located in Hawaii. It is used to study exoplanets using the gravitational microlensing method.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the gamma-ray observatory that was launched by NASA in 2013 and is still operational today?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

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

NuSTAR is a NASA mission that was launched in 2013 to study high-energy X-rays and gamma-rays. It is designed to investigate the most extreme objects in the universe, such as black holes and neutron stars.

Multiple choice

Which gamma-ray observatory is dedicated to studying gamma-ray bursts and other transient phenomena?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

  4. INTEGRAL
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission is a NASA mission that was launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts and other transient phenomena. It is designed to rapidly respond to gamma-ray bursts and observe them in multiple wavelengths.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the gamma-ray observatory that was launched by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in 2018?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

  4. Insight-HXMT
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Insight-HXMT is a gamma-ray observatory that was launched by CNSA in 2018. It is designed to study high-energy phenomena in the universe, such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernovae.

Multiple choice

Which gamma-ray observatory is known for its wide field of view and ability to detect faint gamma-ray sources?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

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

LAT is the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. It is known for its wide field of view and ability to detect faint gamma-ray sources, making it a powerful tool for studying the high-energy universe.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the gamma-ray observatory that was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2016?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

  4. ASTRO-H
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

ASTRO-H is a gamma-ray observatory that was launched by JAXA in 2016. It is designed to study high-energy phenomena in the universe, such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernovae.

Multiple choice

Which gamma-ray observatory is known for its ability to study gamma-rays in the sub-MeV energy range?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

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

GLAST is the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, which was renamed to Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope after its launch in 2008. It is known for its ability to study gamma-rays in the sub-MeV energy range, making it a valuable tool for studying the early universe and other high-energy phenomena.

Multiple choice

Which gamma-ray observatory is known for its ability to study gamma-rays in the GeV energy range?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

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

LAT is the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. It is known for its ability to study gamma-rays in the GeV energy range, making it a powerful tool for studying active galactic nuclei, pulsars, and other high-energy phenomena.

Multiple choice

Which gamma-ray observatory is known for its ability to study gamma-rays in the MeV energy range?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

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

BAT is the Burst Alert Telescope aboard the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission. It is known for its ability to study gamma-rays in the MeV energy range, making it a valuable tool for studying gamma-ray bursts and other transient phenomena.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the gamma-ray observatory that was launched by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in 2005?

  1. Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory

  2. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

  3. Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission

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

AGILE is a gamma-ray observatory that was launched by ASI in 2005. It is designed to study high-energy phenomena in the universe, such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernovae.