Lyrid Meteor shower 2025: When, where and how to watch in India
The Lyrids will appear between April 15 and April 29, but the prime time to observe them is during the peak night on April 22 and in the early hours of April 23. The ideal time for observation is from midnight to 5:00 am, right before sunrise. These are the darkest hours when the sky will be most observable, and the meteors will be less difficult to notice.This meteor shower is visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including India. For a better opportunity to witness the spectacle, go to a dark, quiet location far from street lights and the city. Face the northeast region of the sky, and keep watching. The longer you stay, the better.WHERE TO SEE THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER?advertisementThe Lyrid Meteor Shower can be viewed from most locations around the globe. Although it appears in both hemispheres, the Northern Hemisphere tends to have a slightly better observation.To fully appreciate the meteor shower:Find a dark spot, a village, a park, or a hilltop that is far from the lights of cities.Bring a sleeping bag or blanket, so you can recline and observe the sky in comfort.Don't use your phone or bright lights. Your eyes take a while to get used to the blackness.If the skies are clear, you might be able to spot 15 to 20 meteors per hour, and perhaps even some bright ones with glowing tails.Observing the Lyrid Meteor Shower is a relaxing and thrilling way of getting close to nature, and you don't have to use any equipment, only your eyes and a bit of patience.Must Watch
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Pralay missile, SARs used in NISAR and more (Week 121)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Pralay missile, consider the following statements: 1. It is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile. 2. This missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets. 3. The first test of Pralay was conducted in 2024. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful tests of quasi-ballistic missile Pralay from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha — The flight tests were carried out as a part of user evaluation trials to validate the maximum and minimum range capability of the missile system. 'The missiles precisely followed the intended trajectory and reached the target point with pin-point accuracy meeting all the test objectives. — Pralay is an indigenously-developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — The first test of Pralay (which means widespread destruction) was conducted in December 2021. The missile is slated to be armed with a conventional warhead and will be inducted into the artillery of the Indian Army. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs) used in NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), consider the following statements: 1. Both the L-band and S-band radars can see through clouds, smoke, rain or fog, thus getting an unfiltered view of the Earth across all weathers and through day and night. 2. The S-band SAR uses higher wavelength microwaves, which can better penetrate tree cover or vegetation, and even sand or ice. 3. The L-band SAR has a shorter wavelength, is unable to go much deeper, but is good for capturing the larger features, such as crop fields or water bodies. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) uniqueness is the two SARs that it is fitted with. Radars. — A number of SAR-equipped satellites are currently deployed in space. ISRO's RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellites) family of satellites, recently renamed the EOS series, carry SAR. Some of ISRO's other Earth observation satellites, such as Cartosat and Oceansat, do not use SAR. — The power of NISAR is derived from two SARs, one in the L-band and the other in the S-band. They are meant to record complementary sets of photographs for the same region at the same time, resulting in a hitherto unattainable level of detail on Earth. Both L-band and S-band radars can see through clouds, smoke, rain, and fog, providing an unfiltered image of the Earth in all weather conditions and at any time of day or night. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The L-band SAR, which uses higher wavelength microwaves, can better penetrate tree cover or vegetation, and even sand or ice. It is, therefore, able to capture minute details of surface undulations, and can see through dense forest cover, for example, to map the ground below and measure tree trunk biomass, which is very useful for estimating carbon stock. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — The S-band SAR, which has a shorter wavelength, is unable to go much deeper, but is good for capturing the larger features, such as crop fields or water bodies. It can observe crops like soybean, corn, sugarcane and provide information on their different growth and maturity stages. This observation will especially focus on India. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the pollutants and their sources, consider the following pairs: 1. PM 2.5 – Predominantly produced by vehicle emissions and thermal power plants. 2. Nitrogen dioxide – Produced primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles, thermal power plants, and various industrial processes. 3. Soot – It comes from sources such as vehicle exhaust emissions and burning wood. How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs (c) All three pairs (d) None of the above pairs Explanation — According to a new large-scale study conducted by Cambridge University researchers, long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of getting dementia. The analysis, published in The Lancet Planetary Health on Thursday (July 24), is the most comprehensive assessment of its kind, based on a systematic examination of 51 studies and data from more than 29 million people exposed to air pollution for at least one year. — The current study is the most extensive of its type, and it discovered a positive and statistically significant link between three prevalent air contaminants and dementia. — PM2.5: Predominantly produced by vehicle emissions and thermal power plants, PM2.5 is extremely fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. The study found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) of long-term exposure to PM2.5, an individual's relative risk of dementia would increase by 17% from the baseline. Hence, pair 1 is correct. — NO2: Nitrogen dioxide is produced primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles, thermal power plants, and various industrial processes. The study found that for every 10 μg/m³ of long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide, the relative risk of dementia increased by 3%. Hence, pair 2 is correct. — Soot: Soot or Black Carbon PM2.5 comes from sources such as vehicle exhaust emissions and burning wood. The study reported that dementia risk jumped by 13% for each 1 μg/m³ of long-term soot exposure. The Central Pollution Control Board does not separately report BC/PM2.5 levels. Hence, pair 3 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. The term 'hypocenter' with reference to an earthquake refers to: (a) the location below the Earth's surface where the earthquake starts (b) the location on the surface of the Earth where it cracks (c) the location from where the seismograph measures the intensity of the earthquake (d) the location adjacent to the seismically prone region Explanation — A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves of up to 16 feet, which had started to American shores along Hawaii's islands and off the coast of northern California. — An earthquake is an intense shaking of the ground caused by movement under the Earth's surface. It happens when two blocks of the Earth suddenly slip past one another. This releases stored-up 'elastic strain' energy in the form of seismic waves, which spread through the Earth and cause the shaking of the ground. — The Earth's outermost surface, crust, is fragmented into tectonic plates. The edges of the plates are called plate boundaries, which are made up of faults — zones of fractures between two blocks of rock. The tectonic plates constantly move at a slow pace, sliding past one another and bumping into each other. As the edges of the plates are quite rough, they get stuck with one another while the rest of the plate keeps moving. — Earthquake occurs when the plate has moved far enough and the edges unstick on one of the faults. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says that 'the location below the Earth's surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the Earth is called the epicentre.' Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to 'ham' radio, consider the following statements: 1. It is used for educational and knowledge purposes. 2. Communication can be set up between two licensed hams. 3. In India, individuals below the age of 21 are not permitted to operate a ham radio. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian astronaut, used a ham radio from the International Space Station to communicate with schoolchildren in his home country. — Amateur radio, sometimes known as ham radio, is a licensed radio service that uses radio waves to create communication. Ham radio service is mostly used for educational and informational purposes, as well as emergency or SOS communications. Trained ham operators can establish contact between two licensed amateur radio operators using a designated frequency, a transceiver, and an antenna. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — Communication might be hyper-local, global, or space-based. In India, everyone over the age of 12 is entitled to use a ham radio. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issues these licenses. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — In 1983, amateur radio was used for the first time on a space shuttle to communicate between space and Earth. — The ISS also contains a ham radio, called the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), which is frequently used to coordinate astronaut-student contacts. The goal of such exchanges is to encourage the next generation. — This teaching opportunity is supported by amateur radio organisations, as well as space agencies in the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe, which provide equipment and operational support. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), consider the following statements: 1. It was established as a successor to INCOSPAR in 1969. 2. It is the nodal space agency under the Department of Space (DoS), which was formed in 1972. 3. Its core mandate includes designing launch vehicles, satellites, and applying space technology for societal development. 4. ISRO functions autonomously under the Ministry of Science & Technology. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) All of the above Explanation — Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of India. The organisation is involved in science, engineering and technology to harvest the benefits of outer space for India and the mankind. — ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. The department executes the Indian Space Programme primarily through various Centres or units within ISRO. — ISRO was previously the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up by the Government of India in 1962, as envisioned by Dr. VikramA Sarabhai. — ISRO was formed on August 15, 1969 and superseded INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space technology. DOS was set up and ISRO was brought under DOS in 1972. — The prime objective of ISRO/DOS is the development and application of space technology for various national needs. — ISRO has developed satellite launch vehicles, PSLV and GSLV, to place the satellites in the required orbits. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Other source: What are Population III stars? (a) the first stars in the universe (b) the recent stars in the universe. (c) the smallest, long-living, dim stars. (d) None of the above Explanation — The very first stars — so-called Population III stars — were unlike any we see today. Born from pristine hydrogen and helium, they were massive, short-lived, and intensely bright. Some may have been hundreds of times the mass of our Sun, burning hot and dying young in titanic supernovae that scattered heavy elements across space. These explosions seeded the universe with the ingredients for future generations of stars, planets, and eventually, life. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to 'reionization', consider the following statements: 1. It is an important phenomenon in our universe's history as it presents one of the few means by which we can (indirectly) study these earliest stars. 2. Scientists have recently discovered when the first stars were formed and when the reionization process started to occur. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation According to 'The energetic ultraviolet light from these first stars was capable of splitting hydrogen atoms back into electrons and protons (or ionizing them). This era, from the end of the dark ages to when the universe was around a billion years old, is known as 'the epoch of reionization.' It refers to the point when most of the neutral hydrogen was reionized by the increasing radiation from the first massive stars. Reionization is an important phenomenon in our universe's history as it presents one of the few means by which we can (indirectly) study these earliest stars. But scientists do not know exactly when the first stars formed and when this reionization process started to occur.' Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 120) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Two-eyed' NISAR satellite will scan every piece of Earth
Nasa's deputy associate administrator Casey Swails, in presence of Isro chairman V Narayanan, addresses scientists after successful launch of GSLV-F16 NEW DELHI: The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) programme cost the US and India over $1.5 billion. But there is an important question to be asked: What was the need for such a huge investment when hundreds of earth observation satellites are already in space? The answer is that the world had never developed a dual-frequency band satellite. NISAR has two synthetic aperture radars of different bands that will operate in tandem. It will be a 'satellite with two eyes in space' keeping a hawk's eye on the Earth and scanning every piece of our planet for minute details. 'Our planet surface undergoes constant and meaningful change. Some change happens slowly. Some happens abruptly. Some changes are large, while some are subtle,' Karen St Germain, director of Nasa's Earth Science division, explained. Calling NISAR 'the most sophisticated radar we've ever built and a model for the next generation of Earth-observation capabilities', Germain said, 'We'll see land substance and swelling, movement, deformation and melting of mountain glaciers and ice sheets covering both Greenland and Antarctica, and, of course, we'll see wildfires'. It's 'a first-of-its-kind, jewel radar satellite that will change the way we study our home planet and better predict a natural disaster before it strikes,' Nasa's science mission chief Nicky Fox said ahead of liftoff. Congratulating Isro and Nasa, space minister Jitendra Singh called the NISAR mission a 'game changer in precise management of disasters'. The L-band SAR, provided by Nasa, uses higher wavelength microwaves and can penetrate tree cover for vegetation, sand and ice. It will capture minute details of surface undulations and see through dense forest cover. The S-band SAR, provided by Isro, which has a shorter wavelength, will capture larger features like crop fields and water bodies. L-band and S-band SARs together will provide a comprehensive picture of the observed area — generating detailed imagery that is not possible even by integrating data of two separate satellites with different bands. Putting two radars of different bands on the same satellite was therefore the biggest engineering challenge for both Nasa and Isro, which they finally managed to overcome, though it took them 10 years to develop the 2,392-kg marvel. Equipped with a 12-metre dish that will unfold in space, NISAR will record nearly all of Earth's land and ice twice every 12 days from an altitude of 747 km. By picking up tiny changes in the vertical movement of the Earth's surface — as little as 1 cm (0.4 inches) — scientists will be able to detect precursors to natural and human-caused disasters, from earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes to aging infrastructure like dams and bridges. The data from NISAR will be turned into three-dimensional maps that will not only help scientists and policymakers respond to natural disasters but also assist farmers by monitoring soil moisture and crop growth. Indian space industry representative Anil Prakash, DG, SatCom Industry Association (SIA-India), hailed the NISAR mission and Indo-US space collaboration. "The successful Nasa-Isro collaboration on the $1.5 billion NISAR mission marks a defining moment in global space diplomacy. It brings together cutting-edge American L-band SAR systems and India's expertise in engineering, integration, and cost-effective launch capability via GSLV-F16,' Prakash said. "Isro's contribution, including the S-band radar, satellite bus, launch services, and mission operations, once again demonstrates India's ability to build and deliver complex systems with remarkable reliability. With a legacy of over 400 international satellite launches, Isro has emerged not just as a collaborator, but as a co-architect of next-generation Earth science missions,' he added.
The Print
10 hours ago
- The Print
NASA & ISRO's Earth observation satellite NISAR lifts off from Sriharikota. What happens now
It is the first satellite to be mounted with dual SARs—L and S bands—operating in different frequencies. NISAR, which took off at 5.40 pm from India's Sriharikota space port, will produce high-resolution images and data on various aspects of the planet, including key information for predicting disasters such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods and earthquakes. New Delhi: Post its launch Wednesday evening, the world's most expensive and powerful Earth observation satellite, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), will undergo a series of actions for nearly 90 days before it starts releasing its scientific observations. Aravind Ravichandran, Earth observation consultant and communicator, and founder and CEO of TerraWatch Space, an independent advisory and strategic communications firm, said in a statement that NISAR is the 'most important Earth observation (EO) satellite ever' because of the global impact it promises. 'NISAR will complement foundational EO missions like Sentinel-1 by offering consistent, freely available SAR data, which also becomes valuable for training foundation models. It will have a significant global impact, especially in the Global South, where persistent cloud cover and limited ground infrastructure have led to data gaps,' he said. Also Read: Lift the veil, abandon Soviet-era approach. Indian science community wants ISRO to up its PR game What will happen after launch? In a press conference announcing the launch of NISAR, scientists from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration had said that Indian Space Research Organisation's GSLV-F16 will place the 2.8-tonne satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit. The mission is carrying a 12-metre-wide reflector, which will serve as a radar antenna. Since such a large piece of equipment cannot be carried in its original form, it was folded up compactly during the launch, and once the satellite reaches its intended orbit, it will be opened up using a complex multi-stage boom system. This deployment process is expected to begin on the 10th day after the launch. Before the radar antenna is unfurled into its complete form, engineers will undertake pre-deployment checks. In its last leg of deployment, the satellite will perform a 'yaw manoeuvre' to precisely orient itself before beginning operations, according to NASA. In its mission handbook, NASA states that NISAR's global and rapid coverage will provide unprecedented opportunities for disaster response, providing data to assist in mitigating and assessing damage, with observations before and after disasters in short time frames. 'NISAR will also be capable of measuring changes in groundwater reserves across the land. Climate change, coupled with growing populations, is causing increasing stress on groundwater resources globally,' it adds. The US space agency, which is partnering with India's ISRO for the first time for a SAR satellite, said that by measuring changes in Earth's surface, the scientific community across the world will be able to understand processes occurring below the surface. 'Subsidence (downward vertical movement of the Earth's surface) is often the first indication of changes in reservoirs or over-exploitation of aquifers. Subsidence that continues for too long can lead to irreversible collapse of the aquifer system. Informed decisions allow us to make the most of our resources sustainably and economically,' it says. Experts also highlighted the scale of data that NISAR will be dealing with and how the mission places India as a trusted partner in the global space domain. Yashas Karanam, co-founder and COO of Bengaluru-based Bellatrix Aerospace, a space start-up, said the collaborative effort shown by ISRO in providing the launch service and the S-band SAR, and NASA providing the L-band SAR on this project, truly exemplified what global cooperation focused on the well-being of the planet should look like. 'What sets NISAR apart technically is its interferometric SAR (InSAR) capability, which will provide a meter-scale resolution. It marks a shift in our ability to model, mitigate, and adapt to climate change and natural disasters,' Karanam told ThePrint. 'In many ways, it stands as a civilisational asset, providing foresight and data necessary to potentially avert the impact of natural and anthropogenic threats,' he added. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: 'Today's the day!' $1.5 bn ISRO-NASA partnered NISAR satellite set for liftoff
