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<ul><li>Scientists at the <keyword id="188953" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Physical-Research-Laboratory">Physical Research Laboratory</keyword> at <keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword> have been observing EPIC 211945201b for over a year now. </li><li>The planet is 27 times the mass of Earth and has six times the radius, while being located over 600 light years away. </li><li>It orbits its own parent sun, but completes a revolution in 19.5 days. </li></ul>It’s six times bigger than the Earth and over 600 light years away, and it’s one of the most ‘epic’ <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isros-prl-scientists-discover-an-epic-planet/article24127772.ece">discoveries</a> made by the <keyword id="116095" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Space-Research-Organisation">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword> (ISRO). Christened the EPIC 211945201b, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in <keyword id="5065" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ahmedabad">Ahmedabad</keyword> not only found a new planet in the deep recesses of space but was also able to measure its mass. There are only a <a href="https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/innovation/nasa-earth-scientists-discover-20-new-habitable-planets">handful</a> of nations that have the capability to explore regions so far away, let alone discover entirely new planets. What’s so EPIC anyway? The PRL Advance Radial-Velocity Abu-Sky Search (<a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/mount-abu-infrared-observatory-miro-unveiling-universe">PARAS</a>), India’s first telescope designed specifically to make infrared observations, stumbled upon the exoplanet after <keyword id="6360409" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasa">NASA</keyword>’s K2, a space observatory, picked up an anomaly in the brightness of one of the stars on its radar. They decided to explore the possibility of an exoplanet ‘transiting’ around the star that K2 had spotted. Exoplanets transiting around a star often lead to the star’s brightness changing. And thus, the 1.2m telescope, <keyword id="47495" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paras">PARAS</keyword>, was put to use from the Gurushikhar Observatory in <keyword id="53955" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mount-Abu">Mount Abu</keyword>, Rajasthan. The planet is a little bigger than Neptune but slightly smaller than Saturn. Just like the Earth, it orbits a central star but unlike our little blue planet, it burns at around 600°C. It takes only 19.5 days for the planet to complete one revolution around its parent star, EPIC 211945201 (or K2-236). That means it takes less than a month for the planet to complete, what would technically be, an Earth ‘year’. This measurement of mass, surface temperature and atmospheric conditions are only possible because PARAS doesn’t measure distances solely based on light. Rather, the telescope picks up the entire electromagnetic spectrum so that there’s a treasure trove of data to analyse. Using that data, PRL scientists who’ve been observing the planet for over a year now, claim that ice, iron and other heavy elements account for 60-70% of the planet’s mass. And the mass of the planet itself is 27 times that of the Earth. Though unique in its own way, this ‘epic’ planet is one of 22 other confirmed exoplanet systems with the same dimensions. Furthermore, it’s one of billions that’s currently uninhabited. Nonetheless, it could hold the key towards understanding how planetary systems are formed.

India’s top space agency discovers an EPIC planet 600-light years away

<ul><li>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) quietly launched <keyword id="8143100" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="project-netra">Project NETRA</keyword> this month. </li><li>The Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) will track space debris and other potential threats to Indian satellites in space. </li><li>India will no longer be dependant on the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) for tracking space objects. </li></ul>As the world debated over India’s lunar mission, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/moon-landing-drama-play-by-play-of-isro-losing-communication-with-chandrayaan-2s-lander/articleshow/71018307.cms">Chandrayaan 2</a>, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has quietly launched <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-to-set-up-own-space-debris-agency-because-norad-data-inaccurate/articleshow/70550082.cms">Project NETRA</a> in the background. India’s warning system to detect space debris and other potential threats to Indian satellites is now live, according to a report by <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-initiates-project-netra-to-safeguard-indian-space-assets-from-debris-and-other-harm/article29497795.ece">The Hindu</a>. The Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) will safeguard India’s 50 functional satellites in space using an on-ground network of telescopes and radars under the Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management. According to ISRO, NETRA won’t be tracking space objects exclusively. It will also have military applications — just like NORAD — serving as a warning system against incoming missiles or space attacks from hostile nations. Self-sufficiency in space situational awareness India’s new ₹400 crore ($56 million) system ensures India will no longer have to depend on data from the North America Aerospace Defence Command (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/US-military-bases-are-still-using-Chinese-surveillance-video-cameras-just-weeks-before-a-federal-ban-takes-effect/articleshow/70281636.cms">NORAD</a>). Publically available data on the portal was not accurate enough and useful data is exclusive to NORAD members, which was a major obstacle, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-to-set-up-own-space-debris-agency-because-norad-data-inaccurate/articleshow/70550082.cms">according to</a> ISRO Chairman K Sivan. NETRA is the first step in making India self sufficient when it comes to space situational awareness (SSA). What can NETRA do? As of now, NETRA can only track objects in low-earth orbit (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/prime-minister-modi-in-his-live-address-says-indian-scientists-shot-down-a-low-orbit-satellite-300-km-away-in-space/articleshow/68593276.cms">LEO</a>), which is only 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. It can detect objects as small as 10 centimeters in size up within a range of 3,400 kilometers. Going forward, ISRO has plans to upgrade that capability to track the geostationationary orbit (GEO) as well at 36,000 kilometers. Plans for NETRA include a high-precision and long-range telescope in Leh, a radar in the North East, telescopes in Ponmudi and Mount Abu. It will also use the Multi-Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The entire network will also include data processing units and a control center. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-to-set-up-own-space-debris-agency-because-norad-data-inaccurate/articleshow/70550082.cms">India doesn't trust US with measuring space debris — and so it will set up its own agency</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-activities-bill-addresses-damage-in-outer-space/articleshow/69960212.cms">India’s new ‘Space Activities Bill’ will fix the liability for damage caused in outer space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/us-russia-china-and-india-standoff-over-space-debris-after-a-sat-test/articleshow/70837355.cms">US, Russia and China with space debris in the thousands are complaining about 49 pieces from India's A-SAT test</a>

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India’s top space agency discovers an EPIC planet 600-light years away

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India's new space warning system will also keep an eye out for hostile missiles

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