Daily Current Affairs : 4-January-2024
India, a burgeoning player in global science, has secured a pivotal role in the Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO), an ambitious international project set to redefine our understanding of the Universe. This essay explores the significance of radio telescopes, delves into the SKAO project, highlights India’s crucial contributions, and discusses the key features of the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the ongoing pursuit of gravitational waves.
Radio Telescopes: Unlocking Celestial Secrets
Detection of Radio Waves:
- Instruments like radio telescopes decipher radio waves from space, offering astronomers insights into celestial phenomena.
- Astronomy involves studying various waves of light, including radio waves, emitted by stars, galaxies, and celestial bodies.
Components of a Radio Telescope:
- Basic radio telescopes comprise antennas, receivers, amplifiers, and recorders.
- Versatile, they operate day and night, ensuring continuous observational opportunities.
Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO): A Global Endeavor
Overview and India’s Role:
- SKAO, spanning Australia and South Africa, aims to construct revolutionary radio telescopes.
- India, alongside countries like the UK, Australia, and China, plays a vital role in SKAO’s development.
- India’s key contribution is in developing the Telescope Manager software, essential for SKAO’s functionality.
- Recent financial allocation of Rs 1,250 crore by the Central Government solidifies India’s commitment.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT): Probing the Cosmic Depths
Overview:
- GMRT, located in Khodad, is the world’s largest radio telescope operating at meter wavelengths.
- It consists of 30 fully-steerable dish-type antennas with a diameter of 45 meters.
Objectives and Significance:
- GMRT’s objectives include detecting redshifted spectral lines of neutral Hydrogen and studying pulsars.
- Its wide frequency bandwidth, international collaboration, and contribution to studying galaxy evolution make GMRT a key player in astrophysics.
Gravitational Waves: Unraveling the Fabric of Space-Time
Introduction:
- Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein, result from energetic processes like colliding black holes and neutron stars.
- They carry information about their origins, offering insights into the nature of gravity.
Production and Detection:
- Cataclysmic events generate the strongest gravitational waves.
- Instruments like LIGO have successfully detected these elusive waves, opening a new frontier in astrophysics.
Important Points:
Radio Telescopes: Unlocking Celestial Secrets
- Instruments like radio telescopes decipher radio waves from space, offering astronomers insights into celestial phenomena.
- Astronomy involves studying various waves of light, including radio waves, emitted by stars, galaxies, and celestial bodies.
- Basic radio telescopes comprise antennas, receivers, amplifiers, and recorders.
- Versatile, they operate day and night, ensuring continuous observational opportunities.
Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO): A Global Endeavor
- SKAO, spanning Australia and South Africa, aims to construct revolutionary radio telescopes.
- India, alongside countries like the UK, Australia, and China, plays a vital role in SKAO’s development.
- India’s key contribution is in developing the Telescope Manager software, essential for SKAO’s functionality.
- Recent financial allocation of Rs 1,250 crore by the Central Government solidifies India’s commitment.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT): Probing the Cosmic Depths
- GMRT, located in Khodad, is the world’s largest radio telescope operating at meter wavelengths.
- It consists of 30 fully-steerable dish-type antennas with a diameter of 45 meters.
- GMRT’s objectives include detecting redshifted spectral lines of neutral Hydrogen and studying pulsars.
- Its wide frequency bandwidth, international collaboration, and contribution to studying galaxy evolution make GMRT a key player in astrophysics.
Gravitational Waves: Unraveling the Fabric of Space-Time
- Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein, result from energetic processes like colliding black holes and neutron stars.
- They carry information about their origins, offering insights into the nature of gravity.
- Cataclysmic events generate the strongest gravitational waves.
- Instruments like LIGO have successfully detected these elusive waves, opening a new frontier in astrophysics.
Why In News
Scientists in India will now also be part of the international mega-science project, the Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO), that will function as the world’s largest radio telescope. India’s Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) is amongst the world’s six large telescopes, showcasing the nation’s significant contribution to advancing global astronomical research.
MCQs about SKAO, GMRT, and Gravitational Waves
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What is the primary contribution of India to the Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO)?
A. Financial support
B. Development of the Telescope Manager software
C. Construction of antennas
D. Hosting the headquarters
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Where is the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) located?
A. Mumbai
B. Pune
C. Khodad
D. Delhi
-
What makes GMRT significant in the field of astrophysics?
A. Its location in India
B. Large collecting area and sensitivity
C. Wide frequency range of 100 MHz to 1,500 MHz
D. Operation at night
-
What did LIGO achieve in 2015?
A. Detection of gravitational waves
B. Construction of a new radio telescope
C. Discovery of a distant galaxy
D. Exploration of solar emissions
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