News in Shorts: 20 January 2025

Trajan Gun System

Context: The Trajan 155 mm towed artillery gun system, developed by India and France, has secured an export order from Armenia.

About Trajan Gun

• Joint Development: Developed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in collaboration with KNDS France.
• Manufacturing: Produced in India with several indigenously developed subsystems, including the auxiliary power unit, control panel, and rolling gear assembly.
• Features: Modular design for ease of transportation and deployment, automated loading system for rapid firing, and advanced targeting and fire-control systems compatible with modern military networks.
• Range: Effective range exceeding 40 kilometers, depending on ammunition.
• Terrain Compatibility: Designed to operate efficiently in diverse terrains, including marshy lowlands and high-altitude cold deserts.

About Artillery Gun

• Artillery refers to large-caliber guns with big barrels, designed for land battles, capable of being moved to different locations.
• Purpose: Used for long-range fire support in military operations.
• Examples in the Indian Army:
  • Dhanush: Indigenous 155 mm towed howitzer, an upgraded version of the Bofors gun.
  • M777 Howitzer: Lightweight, 155 mm artillery gun used in high-altitude regions like Ladakh.

Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store

Planet Parade

Context: Currently, six planets Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune  are visible in the night sky, forming a celestial arc known as a ‘planet parade.’

• This rare astronomical event will be observable until February 2025.

About Planet Parade

• Definition: A ‘planet parade’ occurs when multiple planets are visible in the night sky simultaneously.
• Astronomical Phenomenon: It is not a technical term but refers to the alignment of planets along the plane of the solar system, appearing as an arc.
• Visibility of Planets
• Naked Eye: Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars can be seen without equipment.
• With Assistance: Uranus and Neptune require a telescope or binoculars to view due to their distance.
• Frequency and Rarity
• • Planet parades are not extremely rare but don’t occur annually.
  • The last major planet parade took place in May-June 2024.
  • Such events can last weeks or months, with planets visible at convenient evening hours.