Context: Recently, the scientists at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) observed various dwarf galaxies in order to understand the nature of star formation in those galaxies.

• The scientists used the Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) and the Giant Meter wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) for observation of dwarf galaxies.

Key findings of the Study

• The high rate of star formation requires very high densities of Hydrogen in galaxies.
• The hydrogen in the dwarf galaxies was found to be irregular and sometimes not moving in well-defined orbits.
• The research suggests that recent collisions between two galaxies trigger intense star formation in these galaxies.

About Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT)

• It is installed in Devasthal, Nainital in the central Himalayan region.
• It is a clear-aperture Ritchey–Chrétien telescope built by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)
• It is equipped with low noise and fast modern Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) detectors and high transmission filters.
• The site has an added advantage of being in the zone of a crucial geographical location on the globe for a number of time-critical observations of cosmic events.
• It is the product of an Indo-Belgian collaborative effort and was assisted by the Russian Academy of Sciences.
• It replaced the Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur, Tamil Nadu to be Asia’s largest ground-based optical telescope.

About Giant Meter wave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

• It was set up by National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA).
• It is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 metre diameter.
• It is established for radio astronomical research at metre wavelengths.
• It is used for investigating a variety of radio astrophysical problems ranging from nearby Solar system to the edge of observable Universe.
• It is located about 10 km east of Narayangaon town on the Pune-Nasik highway.
• It is the world’s largest radio telescope facility operating at low radio frequencies.

About Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences(ARIES)

• It is an autonomous institute of Department of Science & Technology (DST).
• It is one of the leading research Institutes which specializes in observational Astronomy & Astrophysics and Atmospheric Sciences.
• In order to carry out observations in the frontier areas of astronomy, the Institute has installed optical telescopes at a site called 'Devasthal' which has the advantages of having dark skies and excellent observing conditions.