Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) | 19 Jul 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, Indian researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru have developed a new online tool to create a comprehensive star catalogue for the Adaptive Optics System (AOS) of the upcoming Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

What are the Key Features of Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)?

  • About:
    • It is an ambitious international project coming up at Mauna Kea in Hawaii, involving India, the US, Canada, China, and Japan that aims to advance the understanding of the universe significantly.
      • India is a key partner in the TMT project, with India TMT Center at IIA leading the national collaboration.  
    • The TMT is a next-generation astronomical observatory designed to provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity with its massive 30-meter primary mirror, advanced adaptive optics system, and state-of-the-art instruments.
    • The TMT, the Giant Magellan Telescope, and the European Southern Observatory’s Extremely Large Telescope represent the future of ground-based astronomy.
  • Primary Goals:
    • Study the early universe and the formation and evolution of the first galaxies and stars after the Big Bang.
    • Investigate the formation, structure, and evolution of galaxies across cosmic time.
    • Study the relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.
    • Investigate the formation of stars and planetary systems.
    • Characterise exoplanets and study their atmospheres.

  • Adaptive Optics System (AOS) and New Online Tool:
    • The TMT’s AOS, known as the Narrow Field Infrared Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), uses deformable mirrors and laser guide stars (LGS) to correct atmospheric turbulence, enhancing image resolution.
    • This facility will project up to nine lasers into the sky to create artificial guide stars. However, atmospheric turbulence affects these laser beams, so measuring atmospheric tip-tilt is uncertain. 
      • To correct these effects, the AO system requires feedback from three real stars, known as Natural Guide Stars (NGS).
    • Researchers have developed an automated code that can be used as an online tool to create a catalogue of Near Infrared (NIR) stars.
      • The automated code can compute the expected near-infrared magnitudes of stellar sources identified in various optical sky surveys using their optical magnitudes.

Other Major Telescopes

Other Similar Projects India is Part of

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q1. In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news: (2015)

  1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
  2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter.
  3. It is buried deep in the ice.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Q2. In the context of space technology, what is “Bhuvan”, recently in the news? (2010)

(a) A mini-satellite launched by ISRO to promote distance education in India

(b) The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayan-II

(c) A geoportal of ISRO with 3D imaging capabilities of India

(d) A space telescope developed by India

Ans: C