Antariksh Archives

The main objective of the event was to connect and interact with space enthusiasts  and spread awareness regarding the opportunities in this field for young minds.

Episode 7 of the Internal Talk Series featured Lavanya Saindane presenting on the International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT). Located in Uttarakhand, ILMT is India's first and Asia’s largest operational liquid mirror telescope, built in collaboration with India, Belgium, and Canada. Lavanya explained liquid mirror technology’s advantages, like cost-effectiveness, self-healing properties, and easy maintenance. She discussed ILMT's construction, key components, and image mapping capabilities, illustrating its significant role in astronomical observations. The ILMT has captured remarkable images of asteroids, star clusters, and galaxies, advancing our understanding of celestial phenomena. The session concluded with a Q&A, inspiring curiosity about liquid mirror astronomy.

This internal talk presented various theories regarding the origin of the universe and the formation of our solar system. It discussed the Steady State Theory, suggesting a constant universe through ongoing matter creation, and the Pulsating Theory, which posits infinite cycles of expansion and contraction. The widely accepted Big Bang Theory describes the universe emerging from a singularity around 13.8 billion years ago. Additionally, it covered the Gaseous, Nebular, and Planetesimal Hypotheses for solar system formation. Each theory, while offering insights, has its limitations, prompting further exploration into the universe's origins.

The event "Instrumentation and Engineering in Astronomy" featured a talk by Ashish Mhaske, a scientific officer at IUCAA. The discussion covered the role of engineers in astronomy, focusing on electromagnetic wave detectors, particle detectors, and gravitational wave detectors like LIGO. It highlighted opportunities for engineers in building and maintaining astronomical instruments, emphasizing the multidisciplinary nature of astronomy. The session concluded with a Q&A, addressing topics such as gravitational wave detection, dark matter observation, and India's advancements in astronomy.

On October 5th, Shrava Bhandary from the Antriksh Club of VI delivered a talk on H1 Line Emission, exploring the 21 cm wavelength in radio astronomy and its role in understanding the Milky Way's structure. The 21 cm line, emitted by neutral hydrogen, allows astronomers to peer through cosmic dust and map galactic features like spiral arms and star-forming regions. The talk covered essential concepts like the Doppler Effect for tracking galactic motion and Kepler’s Laws. The unexpected constant rotational velocity in the Milky Way's outer regions hinted at dark matter's presence, revealing new dimensions in galactic dynamics.

The field of exoplanet discovery and research has grown significantly since the first confirmed detection in 1992. This article reviews prominent methods for detecting exoplanets, primarily focusing on Doppler Spectroscopy and Transit Photometry. The Doppler method analyzes spectral shifts caused by the gravitational influence of orbiting planets, while Transit Photometry measures the periodic dimming of a star's light as a planet transits its disk. Both methods have led to the identification of numerous exoplanets, including intriguing cases like Kepler-452b, HD 189733 b, and TOI-4603b. Despite their successes, challenges remain, necessitating continual advancements in detection techniques. The paper concludes by highlighting the potential of upcoming missions like TESS and the James Webb Telescope to further enhance our understanding of exoplanets.