AstroSat – India’s First Space Observatory

Source: TH

Context: AstroSat, India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory, has completed 10 years in orbit since its launch on 28 September 2015 by PSLV-C30.

About AstroSat – India’s First Space Observatory:

• What it is?

• India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space astronomy observatory, capable of observing the universe in UV, visible, soft X-ray, and hard X-ray bands simultaneously. A collaborative project of ISRO and premier Indian research institutes with international partners (Canada, UK).

• India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space astronomy observatory, capable of observing the universe in UV, visible, soft X-ray, and hard X-ray bands simultaneously.

• A collaborative project of ISRO and premier Indian research institutes with international partners (Canada, UK).

• Launched in:

• Date: 28 September 2015. Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C30 (XL configuration). Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

• Date: 28 September 2015.

• Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C30 (XL configuration).

• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

• To enable simultaneous multi-band observations of celestial phenomena. To provide Indian astronomers with space-based capabilities, reducing dependence on foreign observatories. To contribute to global astronomy research through open access to scientists worldwide.

• To enable simultaneous multi-band observations of celestial phenomena.

• To provide Indian astronomers with space-based capabilities, reducing dependence on foreign observatories.

• To contribute to global astronomy research through open access to scientists worldwide.

• Features:

• Payloads (5): Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI) Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) Discoveries & Contributions: Solved a puzzle about a red giant star’s unusual brightness. Detected far-UV photons from galaxies ~9 billion light years away. Showed extended emission of the Butterfly Nebula. Discovered fast-spinning black holes and studied X-ray binaries. Conducted X-ray polarization studies and captured galaxy mergers.

• Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)

• Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC)

• Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI)

• Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)

• Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM)

• Discoveries & Contributions: Solved a puzzle about a red giant star’s unusual brightness. Detected far-UV photons from galaxies ~9 billion light years away. Showed extended emission of the Butterfly Nebula. Discovered fast-spinning black holes and studied X-ray binaries. Conducted X-ray polarization studies and captured galaxy mergers.

• Solved a puzzle about a red giant star’s unusual brightness.

• Detected far-UV photons from galaxies ~9 billion light years away.

• Showed extended emission of the Butterfly Nebula.

• Discovered fast-spinning black holes and studied X-ray binaries.

• Conducted X-ray polarization studies and captured galaxy mergers.

• Significance:

• Scientific Breakthroughs: Provided India with a world-class astronomy platform, contributing to black hole, neutron star, and galaxy studies. Capacity Building: Nurtured new generation of Indian astronomers, with half the users being students/researchers from India.

• Scientific Breakthroughs: Provided India with a world-class astronomy platform, contributing to black hole, neutron star, and galaxy studies.

• Capacity Building: Nurtured new generation of Indian astronomers, with half the users being students/researchers from India.