Space GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV Energies) Context: Researchers from India and Japan used the GRAPES-3 muon telescope to study 22 years of cosmic-ray data. This helped in understanding the Earth’s upper atmosphere and the Sun’s magnetic field. Muons are tiny particles formed when cosmic rays hit gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere. About GRAPES-3 GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS–Phase 3) is a cosmic ray observatory situated at Ooty, Tamil Nadu, at an elevation of nearly 2,200 metres above sea level. It is managed by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). Objective The facility is intended to investigate the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. Working GRAPES-3 examines extensive air showers, which are streams of secondary particles generated when high-energy cosmic rays or gamma rays interact with the Earth's atmosphere. It detects particles in the tera-electronvolt (TeV) to peta-electronvolt (PeV) energy range, representing some of the highest-energy particles found in nature. Other Areas of Study Apart from cosmic rays, the observatory also focuses on: Solar phenomena, especially the effects of solar activity on cosmic rays. Thunderstorm-related processes, including atmospheric electric fields and their interaction with cosmic ray muons. The observatory employs: A network of plastic scintillator detectors to record extensive air showers. A large area muon detector based on proportional counters to detect high energy muons reaching the Earth's surface.
