Source: DD News
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: IIA celebrated 10 years of the UltraViolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat, marking a decade of major scientific discoveries.
About AstroSat:
- What it is?
- AstroSat is India’s first dedicated astronomy satellite enabling simultaneous observations in UV, optical, soft X-ray and hard X-ray bands.
- Launched in: 2015 by PSLV-C30 into a 650 km orbit.
- Aim: To study cosmic sources across multiple wavelengths, track high-energy processes, and provide global-access astronomical data.
- Key Features:
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- Five scientific payloads covering 0.3–100 keV + UV bands.
- Enables simultaneous multi-wavelength imaging, unique among space observatories.
- High pointing stability and long-duration exposure capabilities.
- Data processed and archived by ISSDC, Bylalu; mission operated by ISTRAC, Bengaluru.
- Minimum designed life: 5 years, extended far beyond.
About Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT):
- What it is?
- A twin-telescope UV imager aboard AstroSat capable of near-UV, visible, and far-UV observations.
- Features:
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- Spatial resolution better than 1.5 arcseconds (among the world’s best in UV imaging).
- Two telescopes: NUV+Visible and FUV channels.
- Developed by a national consortium led by IIA, with ISRO centres.
- Significance:
