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The Giant Metre wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observatory gets international recognition
About the Giant Metre wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observatory
- Giant Metre wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) has become the third Indian scientific facility to be awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) milestone for its novel engineering, advanced technology and scientific contributions made in the field of radio astronomy.
- A special accolade for a very special telescope – GMRT – designed, built and operated by Indian scientists and engineers.
- It is used by radio astronomers from across the world to study our Universe.
- GMRT was set up by National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) for radio astronomical research using the metre wavelengths range of the radio spectrum
- It is located at a site about 80 km north of Pune.
The previous two Indian IEE Milestones were:
- Sir J.C. Bose– In 2012 IEE recognised him for demonstrating the generation and reception of radio waves in 1895 (in 2012) and
- Sir C.V. Raman– For the Nobel Prize-winning (in 1930) ‘scattering of light’ phenomenon observed by in 1928
About National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)
- NCRA has its roots in the Radio Astronomy Group of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, set up in the early 1960s under the leadership of Prof. Govind Swarup.
- In 1963, the young branch of astronomy, called `Radio Astronomy‘ got a kick start in India with the establishment of a radio astronomy group at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.
- The group designed and built the Ooty Radio Telescope.
- In the early 80’s an ambitious plan for a new telescope was proposed – the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope.
Source: The Hindu
