Read the below statements 1. NASA launched a space telescope, SPHEREx, to study the universe's "cosmic glow".

Question

Read the below statements:

1. NASA launched a space telescope, SPHEREx, to study the universe's "cosmic glow".

2. The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) telescope was inaugurated at Hanle, Ladakh.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. A. Only statement 1
2. B. Statement 1 and 2 both (Correct answer)
3. C. Neither statement 1 nor 2
4. D. Only statement 2

Correct Answer

Option B — Statement 1 and 2 both

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Statement 1 and 2 both.

Key Points

• Statement 1 is correct. NASA's SPHEREx is a space telescope designed to survey the sky in infrared, studying the faint collective glow of cosmic sources and the early universe.
• Statement 2 is correct. The MACE (Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment) telescope was inaugurated at Hanle, Ladakh.
• Both hold, so the answer is the "both" option.

Additional Information

• MACE is the highest-altitude gamma-ray telescope in the world, at roughly 4,300 m, and the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia. It was built by BARC with ECIL and other Indian industry.
• Hanle hosts the Indian Astronomical Observatory and India's first Dark Sky Reserve, chosen for its dry air, high altitude and minimal light pollution.
• Cherenkov telescopes detect the faint blue flash produced when gamma rays strike the atmosphere, allowing ground-based observation of very high-energy phenomena.
• SPHEREx stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer.