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.

Optical telescopes in IndiaRadio telescopes IndiaAstronomical research institutesSpace observatory missions

Indian Observatories and Astronomy Questions

Multiple choice

Asia's largest telescope is located at

  1. Kavalur

  2. Manilla

  3. New Delhi

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

The Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur, Tamil Nadu, houses the Vainu Bappu Telescope, which was the largest in Asia at the time of its commissioning.

Multiple choice

Choose the option which best gives the opposite of the word 'advent'.

Directions: Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate option.

Ever since  Galileo pointed his homemade optical telescope towards the heavens, astronomers---18--------------------building instruments of increasing power and sophistication ---------19--------------------to observe the universe. Hale telescope on Mount Palamar in Southern California can   detect objects a million times smaller than Galileo’s device -----21--------, they still have their limitations. With the advent of radar technology during World War 2, however, astronomy took a great leap outward. With radio antennas pointing to the night sky, astronomers far -----23-------------------their reach.

  1. fade away

  2. exit

  3. depart

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

The contextual meaning of the word is the beginning of a new technology. The opposite will be the end.

Multiple choice social studies discovery of universe famous space scientists and astronauts space exploration space communications

Where is the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) located?

  1. Jaisalmer

  2. Leh

  3. Jaipur

  4. Kota
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Astronomical Observatory, located near Leh in Ladakh, India, has one of the world's highest located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes. It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore.

Multiple choice social studies discovery of universe famous space scientists and astronauts space exploration space communications

Where is Vain Bappu observatory located?

  1. Udaipur, Rajasthan

  2. Jantar-mantar, Delhi

  3. Kavloore, Tamilnadu

  4. Patiala, Punjab
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Vainu Bappu Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is located at Kavaloore in the Javadi Hills, near Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Multiple choice history language, writing and great books achievements in science and technology india's achievements in science and technology science and technology

Which one among the following is a scientific satellite?

  1. The Hubble

  2. Telstar

  3. COSMOS

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

Hubble is a telescope launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It is the largest astronomical observatory ever built. It is used to especially to look into the details of universe. 

Multiple choice

Name an astronomical observatory built in 18th century Rajasthan

  1. Red fort

  2. Qutub Minar

  3. Jantar Mantar

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II and completed in 1734. The Red Fort and Qutub Minar are located in Delhi and are not astronomical observatories.

Multiple choice

What is a Telescope? A tool that ______ images in the sky.

  1. Brightens

  2. Magnifies

  3. Makes smaller

  4. I don't know, I wasn't listening.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A telescope is an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear closer and larger by magnifying their images. While it also gathers light to make faint objects brighter, magnification is its primary defining function for viewing details.

Multiple choice physics observing space: telescopes space research and satellites space travel space exploration and forms of light

In which of the following instruments is final image erect?

  1. Simple mircoscope

  2. Compound mircoscope

  3. Astronimical telescope

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A simple microscope is magnifying glass, an ordinary double convex lens having a short focal length that produces virtual and erect image.

rather a Compound microscope and astronomical telescope produces virtual and final inverted image. hence correct option is A.

Multiple choice physics observing space: telescopes space research and satellites space travel space exploration and forms of light

In which of the following instruments is final image erect?

  1. Simple microscope

  2. Compound microscope

  3. Astronomical telescope

  4. Galilean telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,D Correct answer
Explanation

simple microscope is placed between the optic center and the focus and the image is erect, virtual and magnified.

For compound microscope -The final image is virtual, inverted and magnified.
The final image formed by an astronomical telescope is always virtual, inverted.
Galilean telescope is to produce a virtual, erect image.