1. Research Project title: "Connecting Solar Interior Dynamics to Variable Solar Activity and Space Weather" (S. P. Rajaguru, IIA Bengaluru (PI), K. Nagaraju, IIA Bengaluru (CO-I), H. M. Antia, TIFR Mumbai (CO-I), Brajesh Kumar, USO/PRL (Co-I) years (2020-2022))

 

Funding agency: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India (Project File No. : CRG/2019/003786)

 

Sanctioning year: 2020

 

Budget: Rs. 21.20 lakh

 

2. Multi-Application Solar Telescope (2000-2015)

3. ISTEP WG-I project on “Study of Erupting Solar Filaments/Prominences, Coronal Mass Ejections, and Associated Interplanetary & Terrestrial Effects”, P.I. Ashok Ambastha, Budget granted: Rs. 9.67 lakh, ISTEP program, duration: 2 years (2000-2002)

 

4. Extended, upgraded GONG+ instrument and observations have continued beyond Phase III till date

 

5. Study of solar oscillations, Indo-US Collaborative Project,(India: A. Bhatnagar,  S.M. Chitre, A. Ambastha, S.C. Tripathy, R.M. Jain, Debi Prasad, H.M. Antia, D. Narasimha. U.S.: J. Leibacher, F. Hill, J.W. Harvey, J. Kennedy, R. Hubbard), Funded by NSF, Washington (USA) and DST, New Delhi, (India)

 

Phase I (1990-1993): Even before the formal approval of grants under this phase, a site evaluation program was initiated with installation of Sun-shine monitor at USO in October 1986.  Rs. 670,000 (US$3390+Rs.100,00 to US PI)

Phase II (1993-1996): site development, deployment of GONG instrument, installation in October 1995, observations of solar oscillations data started.  Rs. 1,950,000 (US$13,500+Rs.1,685,000 to US PI)

Phase III (1997-2001): Data reduction, analysis, and studies of GONG data for various aspects and objectives of helioseismology.  Rs. 550,000 (US$31,000+Rs 500,000 to US PI)

 

6. Astronomical and Atmospheric observations in Ladakh region with long term view of setting up a national high altitude astronomical observatory for infra-red and optical studies, P.I.: Arvind Bhatnagar,Inter-institutional project with USO as nodal institution, sponsored by DST, India, total budget: Rs. 35.70 lakh, for Period April 1984-October 1989.

 

7. Study of high spatial and temporal resolution magnetic, velocity and brightness variation in solar atmosphere using solar tower telescope and 2048-channel magnetograph, August 1982, Proposed Budget Rs. 67.43 lakh, Department of Space. This culminated in the development of a solar spectrograph and a video-magnetograph facility at USO

 

8. Co-ordinated  study of solar activity from full disk optical monitoring of solar flares and energetic mass ejections,  Arvind Bhatnagar, Indian P.I./ Gary Heckman, U.S. P.I., Rs. 3.095 million,  duration 5 years ( 1987-1992), under Indo-US Cooperation in Science and Technology, DST & US held Rupee fund

 

9. DST-SERC Project  on Investigation in Solar Physics –for collaborative SMM Satellite and ground-based solar observations for study of hard X-ray components in solar flares and mass ejections associated with coronal transients(P.I.: Arvind Bhatnagar)

 

Phase I (1975-77): Island observatory established, a 12-ft spar with servo-controlled solar guider, time-lapse camera,  and equipment for monochromatic and white light observations of Sun started (in coordination with international scientific community from US, and Australia, and financial support from DST, CSIR, and Vedhshala Trust, Ahmedabad)

Phase II (1978-80):  Design and fabrication of stepping multi-slit flare spectrograph for high spatial/temporal chromosphericobservations for collaboration in  international Solar Maximum Year and Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite period (Budget: Rs 778,150 DST-SERC)

Phase III (1980-82): Development of active regions, energy storage and release (DST-SERC)