Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

Question-Which of the following is true about ‘Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope’?
(a)It is a telescope which was used to discover the most distant radio galaxy ever known, located at a distance of 12 billion light years.
(b)GMRT located near Pune in India operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
(c)Both (a) and (b)
(d)None of the above
Answer- (c)
Related facts-

  • Astronomers have used an Indian telescope to discover the most distant radio galaxy ever known, located at a distance of 12 billion light-years.
  • The distance to this galaxy was then determined using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona.
  • This particular radio galaxy has been named TGSS J1530.

About GMRT-        

  • GMRT is a versatile instrument for investigating a variety of radio astrophysical problems ranging from nearby Solar system to the edge of observable Universe.
  • Located near Pune in India, is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 metre diameter, observing at metre wavelengths.
  • GMRT is an indigenous project.

About Radio Galaxies-

  • It is a galaxy that emits large amounts of radio waves they are powered by the galaxy’s super massive black hole .When super massive black hole eats nearby gas, dust, and stars; it is known as an active galactic nucleus (AGN).
  • These active black holes have superheated material swirling around them in a circular disk, known as an ‘accretion disk’.
  • The material in this disk is swirling around the black hole in a tight circle, means charged particles in the accelerated.
  • These charged particles emit radio waves with their direction of motion, called ‘synchrotron radiation’.
  • Ayush Saxena and other 12 scientist discovered this galaxy.

References-
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indian-telescope-spots-distant-radio-galaxy/article24648190.ece#
http://www.gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in/gmrt_hpage/GMRT/intro_gmrt.html
http://www.gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in/gmrt_hpage/GMRT/goals_gmrt.html
https://briankoberlein.com/2014/02/08/radio-galaxy/