National
Asia’s largest 4-metre International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) at Devasthal
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated Asia’s largest 4-metre International Liquid Mirror Telescope at Devasthal in Uttarakhand on 21 March 2023.
Location:
The telescope is located at an altitude of 2450 metre at the Devasthal Observatory campus of ARIES, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India in Nainital district, Uttarakhand.
Designed and built by:
The telescope was designed and built by the Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems (AMOS) Corporation and the Centre Spatial de Liège in Belgium.
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) announced that the world-class 4-metre International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) is now ready to explore the deep celestial sky. It achieved its first light in the 2nd week of May 2022.
About Liquid Mirror Telescope:
There are primarily three components in a liquid mirror telescope:
- A bowl containing a reflecting liquid metal (essentially mercury)
- an air bearing (or motor) on which the liquid mirror sits, and
- a drive system
- Liquid mirror telescopes take advantage of the fact that the surface of a rotating liquid naturally takes on a parabolic shape, which is ideal for focusing light.
- A scientific grade thin transparent film of mylar protects the mercury from wind.
- The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi-lens optical corrector that produces sharp images over a wide field of view.
- A 4k ⨯ 4k CCD camera, located above the mirror at the focus, records 22 arcminute wide strips of the sky.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed:
- The ILMT collaboration includes researchers from ARIES in India, the University of Liège and the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Belgium, Poznan Observatory in Poland, the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences and National University of Uzbekistan in Uzbekistan, the University of British Columbia, Laval University, the University of Montreal, the University of Toronto, York University and the University of Victoria in Canada.
- The ILMT employs a 4-metre-diameter rotating mirror made up of a thin layer of liquid mercury, to collect and focus light. The metal mercury is in liquid form at room temperature and at the same time highly reflective and hence, it is ideally suited to form such a mirror.
- The ILMT is designed to survey the strip of the sky passing overhead each night, allowing it to detect transient or variable celestial objects such as supernovae, gravitational lenses, space debris, and asteroids.
- The ILMT is the first liquid mirror telescope designed exclusively for astronomical observations and this is the largest aperture telescope available in the country at present and is also the first optical survey telescope in India.
- While scanning the strip of the sky every night, the telescope will generate nearly 10-15 Gigabytes of data and the wealth of ILMT generated data will permit the application of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms that will be implemented for classifying the objects observed with the ILMT.
- The data will be analyzed quickly to discover and discern variable and transient stellar sources. The 3.6 metre DOT, with the availability of sophisticated back-end instruments, will allow rapid follow-up observations of the newly-detected transient sources with the adjacent ILMT.
- The data collected from the ILMT, over an operational time of 5 years, will be ideally suited to perform a deep photometric and astrometric variability survey.
Indian Navy conducts 'Sam No Varunah' Coastal Car Rally
⇒ Surrounded by seas from the three sides, India has a vast coastline of approximately 7500 Kms, which is more than the length of land borders we share with China and Pakistan combined.
To awaken the maritime nation and encourage Sea Consciousness, the Indian Navy in association with Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) has conducted a maritime awareness coastal motor car expedition, “SAM NO VARUNAH” covering the entire Indian coastline in March 2023.
The objectives of the expedition include:
- Celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- Conduct awareness drives along the route about various career opportunities that the Navy offers including the Agnipath Scheme.
- Showcase ‘Naari Shakti’ by participation of serving women officers and naval wives.
- Instill a sense of adventure and motivate young generation to join the Indian Navy.
- Interact with Naval Veterans/ Veer Naaris enroute.
- Spread awareness about the rich maritime heritage and revival of maritime history by covering various Ports, Forts, Light Houses, Heritage Villages, Beaches etc.
Key Points:
- The rally was flagged off from INS Netaji Subhas from Kolkata on 26 March 2023 and terminated at Lakhpat Gujarat on 19 April 2023.
- The expedition of about 25 days covering a distance of about 7500 kms passing through all the coastal states had the participation of M/s Mahindra who provided a fleet of 12 vehicles. Mastercard India and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd partnered as fuel partner.
International
Annual Bilateral Maritime Exercise 'KONKAN 2023'
⇒ Konkan 2023, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, was held from 20 to 22 March 2023 off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.
Key Points:
- INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition and undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices.
- The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and sub-surface, and included gunnery shoots on surface inflatable target ‘Killer Tomato’, helicopter operations, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship manoeuvres and exchange of personnel.
» The exercise yielded excellent training value to personnel of both navies. A high level of professionalism and enthusiasm was also evident during its conduct.
» The focus personnel exhibited on op-readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the IN and RN to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region.
NASA and ISRO have jointly manufactured an earth science satellite
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have jointly manufactured an earth science satellite named, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar).
The mission objectives of the satellite are:
Design, Develop and launch Dual Frequency (L and S band) Radar Imaging Satellite and to Explore newer applications areas using L & S Band microwave data especially in surface deformation studies, terrestrial biomass structure, natural resource mapping and monitoring and studies related to dynamics of ice-sheets, glaciers, forests, oil slick etc.
About satellite:
- The satellite is configured with I-3K bus and the instrument identified for SAR is based on the innovative Sweep SAR technique configured in both L and S band in polarimetric configuration for wide swath and high resolution.
- The spacecraft will orbit the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit of 747 Km with an inclination of 98.4 degree for a 12-day repeat cycle.
Important Day
World Water Day 2023
⇒ World Water Day is observed every year on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
- It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis, in support of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Theme:
The theme for World Water Day 2023 was ‘Accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis’, emphasising the necessity of taking stern action to address the global water crisis.
- In 2023, World Water Day focused on accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.
- The celebration of this World Water Day coincides with the start of the UN 2023 Water Conference.
- The United Nations 2023 Water Conference was held in New York on 22–24 March. The conference was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite the world around solving the water and sanitation crisis.
» On the occasion of World Water Day, a webinar on the topic ‘Used Water Management in Small Cities’ was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt of India.
- The webinar on lines of this year’s theme- “Accelerating Change” highlighted the need for increased investment, innovation, and governance to ensure effective management of water resources.
History:
- The resolution to observe World Water Day was first adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 22, 1992, after which March 22 was declared as World Water Day and is celebrated around the world since then.
- The first World Water Day was observed in the year 1993.