State PCS
The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is located at:
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Answer: Option B — Nainital, Uttarakhand
Detailed Solution
The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is located at Manora Peak, near Nainital, in Uttarakhand.
About ARIES:
- It is an autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
- Its history goes back to the Uttar Pradesh State Observatory, which was founded in 1954 at Varanasi and moved to Nainital in 1955 (and to Manora Peak in 1961).
- After the formation of Uttarakhand, it was renamed ARIES in 2004 and came under the DST.
- It is named after Aryabhata, the great Indian mathematician and astronomer of the 5th century CE.
- It carries out research in astronomy and astrophysics (such as the study of stars, star clusters, galaxies and gamma-ray bursts) and in atmospheric sciences.
- Its high-altitude location in the Himalayas has clear, dark skies, which are good for observations.
Important telescopes:
Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT): a 3.6-metre optical telescope at Devasthal, near Nainital. It was built with Belgian cooperation and was activated in 2016. It is the largest optical telescope in India and one of the largest in Asia.
International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT): a 4-metre telescope at Devasthal that uses a rotating pool of liquid mercury as its mirror. It began operation in 2022. It is the first liquid-mirror telescope in India.
A 1.3-metre Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope.
The ST Radar (Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar) for atmospheric studies.
Other astronomical observatories and institutes in India:
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (Tamil Nadu): founded in 1899; famous for solar studies. The "Evershed effect" was discovered there in 1909.
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA): Bengaluru.
Vainu Bappu Observatory: Kavalur, Tamil Nadu.
Indian Astronomical Observatory: Hanle, Ladakh.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT): near Pune (Narayangaon), Maharashtra.
Physical Research Laboratory (PRL): Ahmedabad; it runs the Mount Abu Observatory.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, has the Solar Observatory.
- ✗Bengaluru, Karnataka, has the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
- ✗Pune, Maharashtra, has the GMRT and IUCAA.
Quick tip
Remember: ARIES = Nainital (Manora Peak), Uttarakhand (DST; Devasthal 3.6-m telescope, the largest optical telescope in India, 2016; liquid mirror telescope, 2022); Kodaikanal = solar observatory; GMRT = Pune.
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