Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences

October 6, 2026 3:31 PM

Decade-long study of blazar OJ 287 offers fresh clues to giant binary black hole system

An international team led by scientists at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, has tracked changes in the brightness and colour of the blazar OJ 287 over a decade, offering fresh insights into its powerful emissions and central binary black hole system. The study involved 106 scientists from 48 research institutions and universities across 18 countries. Using two dozen telescopes, the researchers observed the object from 2015 to 2025, producing what th...

July 30, 2026 6:42 PM

Scientists discover faster rotation in Sun’s upper atmosphere, challenging classical physics

Scientists have discovered that the Sun's upper atmosphere rotates significantly faster than its visible surface, with the rotation speed increasing at greater heights above the solar surface, challenging long-held expectations based on classical physics. The findings, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters, are expected to improve understanding of the Sun's behaviour and help refine models of solar activity and space weather, which can affect satellites, communication sy...

April 17, 2025 7:07 PM

Indian telescope uncovers elusive intermediate-mass black hole

Indian astronomers have detected and measured the properties of an elusive intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) located in a faint galaxy about 4.3 million light-years away, offering new insights into the mysterious “middleweight” class of black holes. The discovery was made using India’s largest optical telescope, the 3.6-metre Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT), operated by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the Department of...