Bengaluru-born astronomer at University of Arizona to lead NASA's $20 million mission
Dr. Ramya Anche, a Bengaluru-born astronomer at the University of Arizona, has been named the principal investigator for NASA's $20 million PUFFINS mission. The mission will use a SmallSat telescope to study interstellar dust grains in the ultraviolet spectrum.
Why it matters
This mission advances our understanding of star and planet formation by analyzing the smallest dust particles in the interstellar medium.
A small telescope; a question older than many of the instruments now used to study the heavens; and a scientist from Bengaluru at the head of the undertaking.Dr Ramya Anche, an assistant research professor at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, has been selected as the principal investigator of NASA’s PUFFINS mission – Polarimetry in the Ultraviolet to Find Features in INterStellar dust. NASA lists Anche as the mission’s principal investigator under its Astrophysics Pioneers programme.The mission has a $20 million award and is targeted for launch in 2030. At its centre will be a SmallSat carrying a telescope about 10 inches across. It will observe ultraviolet light from roughly 70 stars, seeking information about the very small grains of dust that lie between the stars.The matter may sound modest – dust, after all.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in