Access to space observatory from October: ISRO
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Observing time will be awarded on the basis of proposals reviewed by peers (or senior academics), it said. ISRO in collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, has set up an Astrosat Support Cell (ASC) to facilitate the proposal making process and the use of AstroSat data.
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It said the cell will operate out of IUCAA and will provide resource material, tools, training and help to guest observers. A Memorandum of Understanding between ISRO and IUCAA for the operation of the Astrosat Support Cell was signed on May 5.
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ISRO on September 28 last year had successfully launched Astrosat, aimed at undertaking a detailed understanding of the universe, along with six foreign satellites, onboard PSLV-C30 from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andra Pradesh.
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A unique feature of Astrosat mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.
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ISRO said Astrosat has completed its performance verification and started science operations since April 15. A phase of guaranteed time observations for the instrument teams is currently ongoing.
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The space agency said activities of the ASC will include providing long-term support and maintenance of the Astrosat Proposal Processing System, running a help desk for proposal and data related queries, and organising workshops to familiarise users with proposal preparation and data analysis techniques.
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It is planned to hold two long-duration workshops every year at IUCAA and several short duration workshops at different parts of the country, it added.Â