2009 is being celebrated worldwide as the "International Year of Astronomy (IYA)". Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is one of the organisational associates of IYA. The details of the national program on IYA activities in India is available at Inter University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA).
The Indian space program has always encouraged the study of the universe using space as a platform. The research work in the areas of cosmic rays, infrared, X-rays, gamma ray and solar physics were initially carried out using high altitude balloons and rockets. Today many of these studies are carried out using satellite experiments. Since 90s, opportunities to fly space science experiments have increased and numerous science payloads have been deployed as piggyback systems on several satellites from India. These include:
* SROSS-series GRB experiments.
* IXAE on IRS-P3.
* SOXS on GSAT-2.
More recently, ISRO has undertaken development of dedicated satellites for space sciences. The first of these CHANDRAYAAN-1 was launched on October 22, 2008, marking India's entry into solar system exploration studies. CHANDRAYAAN-1 will soon be followed by a dedicated multi-wavelength astronomy satellite ASTROSAT, slated for 2010 launch.
NASA Probe Sees Solar Wind Decline
The 33-year odyssey of NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has reached a distant point at the edge of our solar system where there is no outward motion of solar wind. Now hurtling toward interstellar space some 17.4 billion...
Super-Earth Atmosphere
A team of astronomers, including two NASA Sagan Fellows, has made the first characterizations of a super-Earth's atmosphere, by using a ground-based telescope...
Kepler Discovers
NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the first confirmed planetary system with more than one planet crossing in front of, or transiting, the same star...
Pulverized Planet
Tight double-star systems might not be the best places for life to spring up, according to a new study using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope....
Dark Asteroids
NASA is set to launch a sensitive new infrared telescope to seek out sneaky things in the night sky -- among them, dark asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth....
