Question

Who is the first Indian meteor astronomer recently honoured by International Astronomical Union by naming a minor planet in his name?

• A. Subramanya Chandrasekhar
• B. Aswin Sekhar
• C. Meganath Saha
• D. Jayant Narlikar

Hint:

Honours like naming minor planets after scientists celebrate their contributions and encourage young students to pursue science.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Who is Aswin Sekhar?
Aswin Sekhar is a well-known Indian astronomer specializing in meteor astronomy, the study of meteors, their origins, and their behavior in space and Earth's atmosphere.
Step 2: Honour by IAU
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognized his significant contributions to space science by naming a minor planet (a small celestial body orbiting the Sun) after him. This is a rare and prestigious honour.
Step 3: Importance
This recognition highlights India's growing contribution to astronomy and space research on the global stage.
Step 4: Other options
- Subramanya Chandrasekhar was a Nobel laureate astrophysicist but not the recent honoree.
- Meganath Saha and Jayant Narlikar are renowned scientists but unrelated to this honour.
Thus, Option (B) Aswin Sekhar is correct.