PRATUSH

• Astronomers are looking forward to opening a new window on the universe by posting high-resolution telescopes on the moon, and in orbit around it.
• There are numerous proposals to do this from astronomers around the world — including one from India called

ABOUT PRATUSH TELESCOPE:

• Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen (PRATUSH) is a radio telescope to be sited on the moon’s far side.
• It is being built by the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru with active collaboration from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It aims to uncover the Cosmic Dawn of the Universe, answering questions about the formation of the first stars, their nature, and the light they emitted.
• The project focuses on studying the Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization (EoR) using radiation from neutral hydrogen gas, which emits a signal at a 21-cm wavelength.
• This signal can provide insights into the early Universe’s transition from neutral to ionized states.
• PRATUSH will carry instruments designed to detect this weak signal, operating over a frequency band of 30-250 MHz.
• Its observations will be free from ground-based interference, enabling more accurate measurements.