Stellar discoveries highlighted at Vainu Bappu Observatory

About Vainu Bappu Observatory:

• Vainu Bappu Observatory is considered one of the most renowned observatories in India it is Located on Javadi Hills at Kavalur, Tamilnadu
• The 40-inch telescope was installed in 1972 and started producing important astronomical discoveries soon after. More than a generation of astronomers were trained at this telescope as well.
• The telescope in the observatory is under the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)

Who is Vainu Bappu?

• He was an Indian astronomer who helped to establish several astronomical institutions in India including the Vainu Bappu Observatory which is named after him.
• He has played a significant role in astronomy with major discoveries like the presence of rings around the planet Uranus, a new satellite of Uranus, and the presence of an atmosphere around Ganymede which is a satellite of Jupiter. 

Other Observatories in India:

• Solar Observatory in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
• Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh
• Udaipur Solar Observatory in Udaipur, Rajasthan
• Gauribidanur Radio Observatory in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Q1)  Which is the largest telescope in India?

The 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope is a custom-built instrument of great complexity which has the distinction of being the largest telescope in India for study of celestial objects at optical wavelengths. It is a national facility installed at Devasthal in the district of Nainital, India.

Source: PIB

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