Decoding the Universe, One Discovery at a Time: Your Daily Dose of Indian Science From ISRO's groundbreaking missions propelling India to new heights in space exploration, to indigenous innovations tackling pressing climate challenges, abtak.com brings you the latest in science and technology shaping our nation and the world. Are Indian scientists unlocking the secrets of personalized medicine? How are advancements in AI impacting our daily lives, from agriculture to healthcare? Dive into cutting-edge research, breakthroughs in biotechnology, and the minds revolutionizing our understanding of the planet and beyond. Stay informed about the implications of scientific advancements, ethical considerations, and the future of technology right here in India. Explore the mysteries of the cosmos, delve into the intricacies of the human body, and witness the transformative power of scientific inquiry. Join us as we unravel the complexities of science and its impact on our future. What breakthroughs await us tomorrow?
Hyderabad: Indian astronomers have successfully photographed the interstellar comet C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), also known as 3I/ATLAS, using the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) of the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle, Ladakh, on the night of July 3, 2025. The comet, first spotted on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, is only the third known interstellar visitor to our solar system. However, it is bigger, faster, older, and already brighter than the two previously known interstellar visitors, which were the asteroid Oumuamua (2017) and comet Borisov (2019). An interstellar object is an astronomical object, such as an asteroid, a comet, or a rogue planet, that is not gravitationally bound to a star. The recently discovered 3I/ATLAS comet is such an object, which is visiting our solar system from interstellar space. Indian Astronomical Observatory captures interstellar comet On July 3, 2025, IIA astronomers observed the comet using the Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Hanle in Ladakh, employing three SDSS filters: g', r' and i'. Multiple imaging techniques were used to track the comet's motion and capture its position across short and long exposures. The montage revealed clear movement of the comet, including visible streaks during longer frames. A final RGB image was created using composite exposures aligned on the comet's centre, where colour was attributed to the imaging process -- not the celestial bodies themselves. 3I/ATLAS: What makes it interstellar When first spotted, the object was approximately 4.5 AU from the Sun and had a relative velocity of 61 km/sec. Notably, one astronomical unit is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, which is about 150 million kilometres. Given that the speed far exceeded the escape velocity at that distance, and since its orbit was subsequently determined to be hyperbolic with an eccentricity of around 6.2, it was evident that the object was not gravitationally bound to the Sun. It was also noted that such a high velocity could not have resulted solely from the Sun's gravitational acceleration and must have been an initial condition upon entering the Solar System. To compare, celestial bodies in the remote Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud typically travel at only a few km/sec or even just a few hundred m/sec, while stars in the solar neighbourhood possess relative velocities in the range of 10 to 30 km/sec -- approximately the expected speed of interstellar visitors. Based on this information, it was concluded that C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) or 3I/ATLAS most likely originated from beyond the Solar System. The position of the comet NASA confirmed earlier that 3I/ATLAS poses no danger to Earth, as it will remain at least at a distance of 1.6 AUs, which is about 240 million km. Passing through the orbit of Mars, it will reach its closest approach to the Sun around October 30, at a distance of 1.4 AU. The following figure showcases the trajectory of the comet as it passes through the Solar System:
New Delhi, December 4: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rescheduled its European Space Agency (ESA) Proba-3 Sun observation mission to Thursday. The launch was postponed due to an undisclosed anomaly that occurred after the "countdown progressed smoothly". "Due to an anomaly detected in PROBA-3 spacecraft PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch rescheduled to tomorrow," ISRO posted on social media platform X. ISRO's PSLV-XL rocket was earlier expected to launch the ESA Proba-3 mission on Wednesday. The mission will now take flight on Thursday at 4:12 pm from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at Satish ...Read More >
The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa offers a unique stargazing experience, far from the distractions of light pollution. Best visited during the dry season (April to September), the clear skies provide stunning views of the Milky Way and other celestial wonders. Key spots like the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park offer unrivaled visibility, with guided night drives to spot wildlife under the stars. Essential for stargazing are a good telescope, star map or app, and warm clothing. Many local lodges and tour operators offer guided stargazing tours, blending astro ...Read More >
New Delhi: Imagine cruising down a wide, freshly paved road, no potholes, a clean stretch of asphalt, and a gentle breeze flanked by green trees. It could be the perfect drive, until suddenly, you find trees not on the side, but standing right in the middle of the road, turning your commute into a dangerous obstacle course. This bizarre and alarming scenario is real on the Patna-Gaya Highway in Bihar's Jehanabad district, just 50 km from the state capital. A Rs 100 crore road widening project, meant to enhance connectivity and safety, has instead become a nightmare for daily commuters. Over ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jul 7 (PTI) In a move to cultivate the next generation of space scientists, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is establishing astro labs in government schools at the block level. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directive, several such labs, developed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model, are now operational in various districts, the UP government said in a statement here on Monday. These labs allow students to explore the mysteries of space not just through textbooks but also through hands-on experience with telescopes, VR (virtual reality) headsets and ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jul 7 (PTI) In a move to cultivate the next generation of space scientists, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is establishing astro labs in government schools at the block level. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directive, several such labs, developed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model, are now operational in various districts, the UP government said in a statement here on Monday. Also Read | Uttarakhand Government To Cover Signboards of 28 Liquor Shops on Kanwar Yatra Route in Haridwar With Curtains During the Auspicious Month of Shravan. These labs ...Read More >
Mumbai, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS moves through the inner Solar System, a new research paper by an Indian astrobiologist has proposed a systematic way to test whether such visitors could show signs of artificial activity. 3I/ATLAS is the third known object from outside our solar system to be discovered from outside our solar system, after 'Oumuamua' (in 2017) and 2I/Borisov (in 2019). Published as a preprint on Zenodo, the research proposed an eight-point operational model for analysing measurable indicators -- from navigational changes to electromagnetic em ...Read More >
Hyderabad: International Asteroid Day (IAD) is observed on June 30 every year to raise public awareness of asteroids and the importance of defending Earth against potential threats from the asteroid belts. This day has been sanctioned by the United Nations. Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the sun. Even though these rocky remnants are the leftovers from the formation of our solar system that occurred about 4.6 billion years ago, they still orbit around the sun like planets. There are lots of asteroids in our solar system, and most of them live in the main asteroid belt, which is ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, on Thursday released a video and a montage of time-lapse images of the recently spotted comet C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), also known as 3I/ATLAS, for educational and outreach purposes. The comet was first discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. "This is only the third interstellar object to visit our solar system, which is exciting. Telescopes around the world will be studying this comet before it exits the Sun's gravitational pull to learn more about its structure and chemistry," said Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, Head of IIA's Science, C ...Read More >
Scientists developed advanced models to trace both the path and thermal behaviour In May 2024, the remote Himalayan skies over Ladakh were unexpectedly painted with a rare celestial display, northern lights, or auroras, typically only visible much closer to the poles. Now, over a year later, astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have unveiled the remarkable chain of events that triggered this rare spectacle: a record-breaking solar storm caused by six massive, interacting ...Read More >
Thane, April 2: In a significant boost to scientific temper in the region, Thane district's first-ever planetarium and advanced astronomical observatory is set to be inaugurated on Sunday, April 5. The facility, named the SAPO Project, is the brainchild of brothers Nilesh and Girish Thakur, whose passion for stargazing has culminated in this 3.5-acre educational hub located near Sakadbhav. The project will be officially inaugurated at 5:00 PM by renowned astronomer Da. Kr. Soman and MLA Daulat Daroda. State-of-the-art facilities The SAPO Project features a modern 56-seat planetarium offeri ...Read More >