Indian Astronomer Leads NASAs Puffin Mission
Bengaluru, October 17: Dr. Ramya Anche, an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, has been appointed as the Principal Investigator for NASA’s Puffins mission. The mission, officially named Polarimetry in the Ultraviolet to Find Features in Interstellar Dust, is set to cost ₹168 crores.
The announcement was made under NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers program, with the mission aimed for launch in 2030. It will feature a small satellite equipped with a telescope approximately 10 inches in diameter.
The Puffins mission will study ultraviolet light from around 70 stars to gather information about tiny dust particles present between stars. This research is expected to enhance our understanding of how stars and planets are formed in the universe.
Dr. Anche described these particles as being roughly the size of common cold viruses, which are not visible through standard telescopes but significantly influence how starlight travels through galaxies. These particles are linked to the processes involved in star and planet formation.
Dr. Ramya Manjunath Anche is a renowned astronomer of Indian origin, currently working as an Assistant Research Professor at the Steward Observatory in Arizona. Her selection for this mission was made through NASA’s competitive ROSES program, based on a proposal she submitted while she was a postdoctoral researcher.
