Submillimetre astronomy
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Submillimetre astronomy or submillimeter astronomy (see
Using submillimetre observations, astronomers examine molecular clouds and dark cloud cores with a goal of clarifying the process of star formation from earliest collapse to stellar birth. Submillimetre observations of these dark clouds can be used to determine chemical abundances and cooling mechanisms for the molecules which comprise them. In addition, submillimetre observations give information on the mechanisms for the formation and evolution of galaxies.
From the ground
The most significant limitations to the detection of astronomical emission at submillimetre wavelengths with ground-based observatories are atmospheric emission, noise and attenuation. Like the
The Llano de Chajnantor Observatory site hosts the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX), the largest submillimetre telescope operating in the southern hemisphere, and the world's largest ground based astronomy project, the
From the stratosphere
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With
From orbit
Comparison[3] | |||||||
Name | Year | Wavelength | Aperture | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Human Eye | – | 0.39 – 0.75 μm | 0.01 m | ||||
SWAS | 1998 | 540 – 610 μm | 0.55 – 0.7 m | ||||
Herschel | 2009 | 55 – 672 μm | 3.5 m |
Space-based observations at the submillimetre wavelengths remove the ground-based limitations of atmospheric absorption. The first submillimeter telescope in space was the Soviet BST-1M, located in the scientific equipment compartment of the
The Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) was launched into low Earth orbit on December 5, 1998 as one of NASA's Small Explorer Program (SMEX) missions. The mission of the spacecraft is to make targeted observations of giant molecular clouds and dark cloud cores. The focus of SWAS is five spectral lines: water (H2O), isotopic water (H218O), isotopic carbon monoxide (13CO), molecular oxygen (O2), and neutral carbon (C I).
The SWAS satellite was repurposed in June, 2005 to provide support for the NASA Deep Impact mission. SWAS provided water production data on the comet until the end of August 2005.
The
See also
- Event Horizon Telescope
- Terahertz radiation
- Far infrared astronomy
- SCUBA-2 All Sky Survey
- Radio window
- Infrared window
- Optical window
- Category:Submillimetre telescopes
References
- ^ "Recent Interest in Eureka on Ellesmere Island as a Submillimetre Observing Site" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-03.
- ^ "ASIAA sub-mm VLBI Project" (PDF).
- ^ JPL: Herschel Space Observatory: Related Missions