The Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) is one of the payloads in AS-TROSAT, the first Indian Space Observatory. The UVIT instrument has two 375 mm telescopes: one for the far-ultraviolet (FUV) channel (1300-1800Å), and the other for the near-ultraviolet (NUV) channel (2000-3000Å) and the visible (VIS) channel (3200-5500Å). UVIT is primarily designed for simultaneous imaging in the two ultraviolet channels with spatial resolution better than 1.8 , along with provision for slit-less spectroscopy in the NUV and FUV channels.The results of in-orbit calibrations of UVIT are presented in this paper.

Results of the initial calibration of the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) were reported earlier by Tandon et al. (2017a). The results reported earlier were based on the ground calibration as well as the first observations in orbit. Some additional data from the ground calibration and data from more in-orbit observations have been used to improve the results. In particular, extensive new data from in-orbit observations have been used to obtain (a) new photometric calibration which includes (i) zero-points (ii) flat fields (iii) saturation, (b) sensitivity variations (c) spectral calibration for the near Ultra-Violet (NUV; 2000−3000Å) and far Ultra-Violet (FUV; 1300−1800Å) gratings, (d) point spread function and (e) astrometric calibration which includes distortion. Data acquired over the last three years show continued good performance of UVIT with no reduction in sensitivity in both the UV channels.

The physical processes related to the effect of bar in the quenching of star formation in the region between the nuclear/central sub-kpc region and the ends of the bar (bar-region) of spiral galaxies is not fully understood. It is hypothesized that the bar can either stabilize the gas against collapse, inhibiting star formation or efficiently consume all the available gas, with no fuel for further star formation. We present a multi-wavelength study using the archival data of an early-type barred spiral galaxy, Messier 95, which shows signatures of suppressed star formation in the bar-region. Using the optical, ultraviolet, infrared, CO and HI imaging data we study the pattern of star formation progression, stellar/gas distribution and try to provide insights on the process responsible for the observed pattern. The FUV-NUV pixel colour map reveals a cavity devoid of UV flux in the bar-region that interestingly matches with the length of the bar (∼ 4.2 kpc). The central nuclear region of the galaxy is showing a blue color clump and along the major-axis of the stellar bar the colour progressively becomes redder. Based on a comparison to single stellar population models, we show that the region of galaxy along the major-axis of the bar (unlike the region outside the bar) is comprised of stellar populations with ages ≥ 350 Myr, with a star-forming clump in the center of younger ages (∼ 150Myr). Interestingly the bar-region is also devoid of neutral and molecular hydrogen but with an abundant molecular hydrogen present at the nuclear region of the galaxy. Our results are consistent with a picture in which the stellar bar in Messier 95 is redistributing the gas by funneling gas inflows to nuclear region, thus making the bar-region devoid of fuel for star formation.

The Astropy Project supports and fosters the development of open-source and openly developed Python packages that provide commonly needed functionality to the astronomical community. A key element of the Astropy Project is the core package astropy, which serves as the foundation for more specialized projects and packages. In this article, we summarize key features in the core package as of the recent major release, version 5.0, and provide major updates on the Project. We then discuss supporting a broader ecosystem of interoperable packages, including connections with several astronomical observatories and missions. We also revisit the future outlook of the Astropy Project and the current status of Learn Astropy. We conclude by raising and discussing the current and future challenges facing the Project.