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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...boost-X-ray-astronomy/articleshow/7349368.cms
PUNE: With India's first dedicated astronomy satellite (Astrosat) scheduled to be launched by end of the year, x-ray astronomy is fast gaining popularity in the astronomy circle across the country. In fact, scientists at the Chandra X-Ray observatory, the best x-ray observatory in the US, have attributed Indian scientists in a big way for their work in x-ray astronomy.
In the city too, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (Iucaa) is doing groundbreaking works in the field, even as their scientists are involved in the designing and the software of the Astrosat, which is equipped with four x-ray instruments.
P C Agarwal, the principal investigator to Astrosat, said, "X-ray astronomy is one of the explosively growing branches of astronomy. For example, the first black hole was discovered from x-ray observation. This was a pathbreaking discover and the importance of x-ray astronomy is clearly underlined here."
The primary emphasis of astrosat will be studies of x-ray emitting objects. This will be India's first observatory wherein x-ray observations can be taken. So far, Indian scientists have been working at observatories outside India, mainly the Chandra observatory, to take observations and analyse data.
"Once astrosat is launched, large data will be available to anybody and everybody. Plus, awareness will be created about x-ray astronomy not only within the astronomy circle, but also in general public. The astrosat will be at par with the observatories abroad," Agarwal said.
Dipankar Bhattacharya, involved in designing and software of the astrosat, said, "The astrosat will turn out to be a great boon for x-ray observations, especially in India, since it does not have one of its own. It will allow users to study the spectrum and time variation of emission produced by cosmic sources. Determining the size of cosmic objects will also be possible while one can also measure the gravitational field, which will tell the nature of objects."
The institutes working in x-ray astronomy, including Iucaa, Indian Institute of Science, Raman Research Institute, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, among others, are conducting various awareness programmes on x-ray astronomy and its importance in the country through workshops and lectures.
In fact, Iucaa has appointed 25 young researchers, who are looking forward to use astrosat and are being trained and guided by expert scientists.
Devraj Pawar, one of the 25 fellows, said, "We are studying how to work on x-ray observations, how to analyse data once observations are taken, what to see and what not to see, basically, all the nuances of x-ray astronomy. I am really looking forward for the launch of astrosat, as it will help us tremendously for the growth of x-ray astronomy in India." Pawar is planning for a doctorate in x-ray astronomy in the coming years.
PUNE: With India's first dedicated astronomy satellite (Astrosat) scheduled to be launched by end of the year, x-ray astronomy is fast gaining popularity in the astronomy circle across the country. In fact, scientists at the Chandra X-Ray observatory, the best x-ray observatory in the US, have attributed Indian scientists in a big way for their work in x-ray astronomy.
In the city too, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (Iucaa) is doing groundbreaking works in the field, even as their scientists are involved in the designing and the software of the Astrosat, which is equipped with four x-ray instruments.
P C Agarwal, the principal investigator to Astrosat, said, "X-ray astronomy is one of the explosively growing branches of astronomy. For example, the first black hole was discovered from x-ray observation. This was a pathbreaking discover and the importance of x-ray astronomy is clearly underlined here."
The primary emphasis of astrosat will be studies of x-ray emitting objects. This will be India's first observatory wherein x-ray observations can be taken. So far, Indian scientists have been working at observatories outside India, mainly the Chandra observatory, to take observations and analyse data.
"Once astrosat is launched, large data will be available to anybody and everybody. Plus, awareness will be created about x-ray astronomy not only within the astronomy circle, but also in general public. The astrosat will be at par with the observatories abroad," Agarwal said.
Dipankar Bhattacharya, involved in designing and software of the astrosat, said, "The astrosat will turn out to be a great boon for x-ray observations, especially in India, since it does not have one of its own. It will allow users to study the spectrum and time variation of emission produced by cosmic sources. Determining the size of cosmic objects will also be possible while one can also measure the gravitational field, which will tell the nature of objects."
The institutes working in x-ray astronomy, including Iucaa, Indian Institute of Science, Raman Research Institute, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, among others, are conducting various awareness programmes on x-ray astronomy and its importance in the country through workshops and lectures.
In fact, Iucaa has appointed 25 young researchers, who are looking forward to use astrosat and are being trained and guided by expert scientists.
Devraj Pawar, one of the 25 fellows, said, "We are studying how to work on x-ray observations, how to analyse data once observations are taken, what to see and what not to see, basically, all the nuances of x-ray astronomy. I am really looking forward for the launch of astrosat, as it will help us tremendously for the growth of x-ray astronomy in India." Pawar is planning for a doctorate in x-ray astronomy in the coming years.
