DAE inaugurates MACE, Asia's largest imaging Cherenkov telescope, at Hanle, Ladakh
On 4 October 2024, at Hanle, Ladakh, DAE Secretary Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty inaugurated the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory, Asia's largest and the world's highest imaging Cherenkov telescope.
Summary
On 4 October 2024, at Hanle, Ladakh, Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, inaugurated the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory. MACE is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and, at an altitude of about 4,300 m, the highest of its kind in the world. Built indigenously by BARC with support from ECIL and other Indian industry partners, it will observe high-energy gamma rays to study phenomena such as supernovae, black holes and gamma-ray bursts. The inauguration was part of DAE's Platinum Jubilee year celebrations.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 4 Oct 2024, Hanle, Ladakh
- Telescope
- MACE - largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia
- Altitude
- ~4,300 m (highest of its kind in the world)
- Built by
- BARC, with ECIL and Indian industry
- Observes
- High-energy gamma rays
- Inaugurated by
- Dr A K Mohanty, Secretary DAE
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Where was the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory inaugurated on 4 October 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Hanle, Ladakh
PIB (8 Oct 2024): the MACE Observatory was inaugurated by Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty at Hanle, Ladakh, on 4th October 2024.
At approximately what altitude is the MACE telescope located, making it the highest of its kind in the world?
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Correct answer: A — 4,300 m
PIB (8 Oct 2024): located at an altitude of ~4,300 m, MACE is the highest imaging Cherenkov telescope of its kind in the world.
Which organisation indigenously built the MACE telescope?
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Correct answer: D — Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
PIB (8 Oct 2024): the telescope is indigenously built by BARC with support from ECIL and other Indian industry partners.
The MACE telescope at Hanle is designed to observe:
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Correct answer: B — High-energy gamma rays
PIB (8 Oct 2024): the MACE telescope will observe high-energy gamma rays, contributing to understanding supernovae, black holes and gamma-ray bursts.
Consider the following about the MACE Observatory inaugurated on 4 October 2024: 1. It was inaugurated by Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy. 2. It is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary DAE and Chairman AEC, inaugurated it. Statement 2 is incorrect: PIB describes MACE as the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and the highest of its kind in the world.