eROSITA
arcsec (at 1.5 keV) | |
Spectral band | X-rays, 0.2 - 10 keV |
---|---|
Host spacecraft | |
Spacecraft | Spektr-RG |
Operator | Russia, Russian Space Research Institute Germany, German Aerospace Center |
Launch date | 13 July 2019[2] |
Rocket | Proton-M[3] |
Launch site | Baikonur 81/24 |
Orbit | Second Lagrange point (L2) |
eROSITA is an
Overview
eROSITA was originally designed by the
The plan was eROSITA
eROSITA was launched on 13 July 2019 by Roscosmos from Baikonur.[3] It achieved first light on 17 October 2019[7] and completed its first all-sky survey on 11 June 2020.[8] In the summer of 2021 the first eROSITA X-ray data release to the public was announced.[9] The operations of eROSITA were suspended on 26 February 2022 after the Russian attack into Ukraine. The science operations of the instrument were paused, but the analysis of the data already received in Germany continued. At the time, eROSITA had completed four of its planned eight full-sky surveys.[10] In June 2022, Roscosmos announced its intent to restore the operation of eROSITA unilaterally, which was criticized by experts for its potential to damage the telescope.[11][12]
Construction
The telescope consists of seven identical Wolter-type mirror modules with 54 nested gold-coated mirrors. The mirrors are arranged to collect the high-energy X-ray photons and guide them to the eROSITA X-ray sensitive cameras. The cameras were also custom-built at MPE, with X-ray CCDs manufactured from high-purity silicon. For optimum performance, the cameras are cooled to −90 °C (−130 °F; 183 K).[13]
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The seven mirror modules from the front
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X-ray detectors behind each mirror
Instruments
eROSITA[1] | ART-XC
| |
---|---|---|
Organisation | Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics | VNIIEF
|
Telescope type | Wolter | Wolter |
Wavelength | X-ray | X-ray |
Mass | 810 kg | 350 kg |
Sensitivity range | 0.3 - 10 keV | 6 - 30 keV |
View angle | 1 degree (diameter) | 30 minutes |
Angular resolution | 15 seconds | 45 seconds |
Sensor area | 2,400 cm2/ 1 keV | 450 cm2/ 8 keV |
Collaboration
eROSITA was developed at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in collaboration with institutes in Bamberg, Hamburg, Potsdam und Tübingen. The instrument principal investigator is Peter Predehl. The project scientist is Andrea Merloni. The German eROSITA consortium has members from institutes all across Germany, but also from international institutes, and has established collaborations with ground-based telescopes for follow-up observations of the millions of sources that will be detected by eROSITA.
Science results
First science verification results were released on October 22, 2019,
The first all-sky survey was completed on June 11, 2020,
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e eROSITA Technical Performance. Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. Accessed on 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Новости. О пуске ракеты-носителя "Протон-М"". www.roscosmos.ru. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ a b c Zak, Anatoly (16 April 2016). "Spektr-RG to expand horizons of X-ray astronomy". Russian Space Web. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "Statement on the status of the eROSITA instrument aboard Spektr-RG (SRG)". 2 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Spectrum-RG/eRosita/Lobster mission definition document". Russian Space Research Institute. 2005-10-30. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- S2CID 184483955.
- ^ "German X-ray telescope achieves 'first light' – Spaceflight Now".
- ^ "Breathtaking new map of the X-ray Universe". BBC News. 19 June 2020.
- ^ "An appetizer to the all-sky banquet". www.mpe.mpg.de.
- ^ "Statement on the status of the eROSITA instrument aboard Spektr-RG (SRG)". www.mpe.mpg.de.
- ^ "Russia plans to restart German telescope without permission". Deutsche Welle. 4 June 2022.
- ^ Dvorsky, George (7 June 2022). "Russian Space Agency Plans to Space-Jack a German X-Ray Telescope". Gizmodo.
- arXiv:1209.3114 [astro-ph.CO].
- ^ Predehl, Peter (11 June 2019). "Revealing the Beauty of the Hidden Universe: eROSITA sees first light". Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Merloni, Andrea (19 June 2020). "Our deepest view of the X-ray sky". Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Merloni, Andrea (19 June 2020). "Presskit for the eROSITA First All-Sky Survey". Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Amos, Jonathan (19 June 2020). "Breathtaking new map of the X-ray Universe". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2020.