Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
India’s first dedicated space observatory, AstroSat, launched on September 28, 2015 via PSLV-C30, celebrates 10 years of groundbreaking discoveries across ultraviolet, visible, and X-ray wavelengths.
AstroSat is a multiwavelength telescope, capable of observing X-rays, UV, and optical light, allowing scientists to study energetic and extreme phenomena in the universe.
The observatory solved a 20-year-old astronomical puzzle by explaining the unusual brightness of a red giant star in both UV and infrared light.
AstroSat has captured far-UV photons from galaxies nearly nine billion light-years away, providing insights into the early universe and galaxy evolution.
The Butterfly Nebula’s emission region was found to extend three times beyond previous estimates, thanks to AstroSat’s sharp UV imaging.
The satellite has advanced research on spinning black holes, galactic mergers, binary star systems, and X-ray polarization, revealing some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena.
Over 3,400 scientists from 57 countries have accessed AstroSat data through AstroBrowse and the new Pradan platform, fostering international research collaborations.
Within India, AstroSat has supported 132 universities, with nearly half of its users being Indian students and researchers, driving astrophysics research and education nationwide.
AstroSat was developed through ISRO centres (URSC, VSSC, SAC) and institutions like TIFR, IIA, and IUCAA, with international partnerships including the Canadian Space Agency and University of Leicester, UK, highlighting the mission’s collaborative foundation.