SCOPE SCOPEIntense Geomagnetic Storm shows effect of subtle solar CMEs on space weather
Astronomers have investigated a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that travelled all the way from the Sun to Earth in March 2023, through a coronal hole, an opening in the Sun’s magnetic field lines, leading to leakage of solar wind streams. The study highlighted how a subtle solar CME could trigger intense geomagnetic storms on earth increasing the challenges of forecasting the effects of space weather.
This study was published in the Astrophysical Journal titled "An Intense Geomagnetic Storm Originated from Stealth Coronal Mass Ejection: Remote and In Situ Observations by Near Radially Aligned Spacecraft", by P. Vemareddy and K. Selva Bharathi.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
SCOPE SCOPERole of magnetic fields in the birth of a young star traced
A team led by IIA researchers have unveiled critical new observational evidence linking magnetic fields from the scale of molecular clouds down to the scale of dense star-forming cores using polarisation studies. This novel work sheds light on the morphology and strength of the magnetic fields across multiple spatial scales, and elucidates the competing roles of magnetic fields and gravity in the formation of proto-stars.
This study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in a paper titled "Magnetic fields on different spatial scales of the L328 cloud", by Shivani Gupta, Archana Soam, Janik Karoly, Chang Won Lee, and G. Maheswar.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
SCOPE SCOPEWhen the inner wall fell: complex hydrocarbon molecules in a young stellar disk
Astronomers have unveiled an intriguing secret behind the dusty veil of a young star named T Chamaeleontis, quietly forming planets about 350 light-years from Earth when part of its circumstellar inner wall collapsed partially. This can help rewrite our understanding of how planetary systems evolve.
This study was published in The Astronomical Journal in a paper titled "When the Wall Fell: Study of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in T Chamaeleontis Using JWST", by R. Arun of IIA.
The paper can be downloaded from here
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPEIIA Celebrates 10 Years of Operation of the UltraViolet Imaging Telescope on board AstroSat
UIVT is the primary payload on board AstroSat, India’s first dedicated space observatory, launched on September, 28, 2015 by ISRO. AstroSat carries five payloads capable of observing simultaneously from the ultraviolet to soft X-rays and hard X-rays. UIVT was designed, assembled, tested, and delivered by IIA, from its campus in Hosakote. To commemorate this achievement and to plan for future space UV telescopes, IIA organised a one-day academic workshop on 4 December 2025, to mark 10 years since the opening of the doors of UVIT on 30 November 2015.
The UVIT image gallery can be seen here.
The DST press release is here.
The PIB press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPEKodaikanal Solar Observatory data helps tracing solar magnetic activity influencing satellite communication
A study led by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics traced the variation of the Sun's magnetic activity with latitude of almost eleven years using a new technique. This was done using calcium K line spectroscopic data from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary.
This study was published in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society as a paper titled "Variations of the Ca II K line profile parameters with solar latitude and time observed from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory", by Apoorva Srinivasa, Anu Sreedevi, K P Raju, K Nagaraju, Jagdev Singh, Narayanankutty Karuppath, P Devendran, T Ramesh Kumar, P Kumaravel.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPESimulations decode rare twin radio galaxies twisting in space
Twin radio galaxies (TRGs) are extremely rare objects, with only three known so far. A team led by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics has succeeded in reproducing the complex morphology of the most recently discovered TRG through 3-D hydrodynamical simulations, proving the crucial role played by the precession of the twin plasma jets emanating from the two supermassive black holes in this system.
This study was published in The Astrophysical Journal in a paper titled "Low-velocity Precessing Jets Can Explain Observed Morphologies in the Twin Radio Galaxy TRG J104454+354055", by Santanu Mondal, Gourab Giri, Ravi Joshi, Paul J. Wiita, Gopal-Krishna, and Luis C. Ho.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
A video simulation of the evolution of jets with time is here.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPEAstronomers unearth unexpected chemical link during stellar evolution
A new study has traced a link between Lithium-rich red giant stars and their enhanced Helium abundance, using data from the Himalayan Chandra Telescope and other archival data. The study gives a new lead to the evolution of cool giant stars along the red giant phase.
This study was published in The Astrophysics Journal as a paper titled "Photospheric Helium Abundance in Cool Giants: A Comprehensive Study", by B. P. Hema and Gajendra Pandey of IIA.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper can be accessed here.
SCOPE SCOPEBlack holes and cosmic jets join forces to shape galaxies
Black hole activities suppress the birth of new stars around it, shows a new study that can help in a deeper understanding of how galaxies evolve and may provide answers to why some have very low star-formation rates.
This study was published in the Astrophysical Journal, titled “Warm Ionized Gas Outflows in Active Galactic Nuclei: What Causes Them?”, and is authored by Payel Nandi and C.S. Stalin from IIA and D.J. Saikia from IUCAA.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
SCOPE SCOPEHanle Dark Sky Reserve star party brings together astronomy enthusiasts for the third year
Astronomy enthusiasts from across the country participated in amateur astronomy and astrophotography related activities at the third edition of the HDSR Star Party that was jointly organised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Department of Wildlife Protection of UT Ladakh, and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) between 18 and 23 September.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPEAstronomers unveil observational evidence of how cosmic dust grains line up with the Galaxy’s magnetic field
Scientists have long believed that just like dust particles dancing in a ray of light, tiny cosmic particles floating between stars in the Milky Way act as storytellers of the universe. Now a team of astronomers, has just uncovered the strongest observational evidence yet of how these interstellar dust grains align themselves with magnetic fields in our Galaxy.
This is based on the paper titled "B-fields and Dust in Interstellar Filaments Using Dust Polarization (BALLAD-POL). III. Grain Alignment and Disruption Mechanisms in G34.43+0.24 Using Polarization Observations from JCMT/POL-2", by Saikhom Pravash, Archana Soam, Pham Ngoc Diep, Thiem Hoang, Nguyen Bich Ngoc, and Le Ngoc Tram, The Astrophysical Journal, 2025, 981, 128.
Press release by DST published here.
Press release by PIB published here.
Download the paper here.