Do aliens exist? India and Japan are building this equipment to find the answer

NEW DELHI: India and Japan are joining hands to answer man's biggest question about the universe. The two countries are collaborating on the construction of the world's largest astronomical instrument, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

Researchers are on a crucial mission to find answers to questions such as black holes, planets similar to Earth, and whether there is life outside Earth. Leading universities in the United States have also joined this international consortium. India's technical participation is also very important for the TMT telescope, which has a diameter of 30 meters.

The prominent part of the giant telescope is made up of 500 small mirrors. All 500 mirrors need to be placed at the exact position and angle without any errors.

The Japanese cabinet approved the installation of these in 2014. The main site chosen for the telescope is Mauna Kea in Hawaii. However, discussions are ongoing on the issue due to protests from the locals in the area. Hanle in Ladakh is also being considered as an alternative site.

This telescope will be able to analyse the traces of life, such as water vapour and organic molecules, on exoplanets outside our solar system. The telescope is expected to be operational by the mid-2030s.

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, and the Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences (ARIS) in Nainital are participating in the project.