Space telescopes

A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1123x1394, 161 KB) source: http://nssdc. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1123x1394, 161 KB) source: http://nssdc. ... Layers of Atmosphere - not to scale (NOAA) Outer space, also called just space, refers to the relatively empty regions of the Universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. ...

Introduction

A large number of observatories have been launched into orbit, and most of them have greatly enhanced our knowledge of the cosmos. Performing astronomy from the Earth's surface is limited by the filtering and distortion of electromagnetic radiation due to the Earth's atmosphere. This makes it desirable to place astrononomical observation devices into space. As a telescope orbits the Earth outside the atmosphere it is subject neither to twinkling (distortion due to thermal turbulences of the air) nor to light pollution from artificial light sources on the Earth. Some terrestrial telescopes (such as the Very Large Telescope) can counter turbulences with the help of their novel adaptive optics. Radio telescopes are among many different tools used by astronomers Astronomy (Greek: αστρονομία = άστρον + νόμος, astronomia = astron + nomos, literally, law of the stars) is the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earths atmosphere, such as stars, planets, comets, auroras, galaxies, and the cosmic background radiation. ... Earth (often referred to as The Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth in order of size. ... wave f[o[Image:Light-wave. ... Earth (often referred to as The Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth in order of size. ... Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) Air redirects here. ... 50 cm refracting telescope at Nice Observatory. ... In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes, around another object, whilst under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity. ... Twinkling consists of changes in the apparent brightness and position of stars caused by atmospheric turbulence and various other irregularities. ... This photo of New York City shows excessive Sky glow, one form of light pollution, partly caused by many unshielded lights. ... One of the four telescopes that make up the VLT, named Kueyen. ... A deformable mirror can be used to correct wavefront errors in an astronomical telescope. ...

But space-based astronomy is even more important for frequency ranges which are outside of the optic window and the radio window, the only two wavelength ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not severely attenuated by the atmosphere. For example, X-ray astronomy is nearly impossible when done from the Earth, and has reached its current important stand within astronomy only due to orbiting satellites with X-ray telescopes such as the Chandra observatory. Infrared and ultraviolet are also greatly blocked. This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... Legend: γ = Gamma rays HX = Hard X-rays SX = Soft X-Rays EUV = Extreme ultraviolet NUV = Near ultraviolet Visible light NIR = Near infrared MIR = Moderate infrared FIR = Far infrared Radio waves: EHF = Extremely high frequency (Microwaves) SHF = Super high frequency (Microwaves) UHF = Ultrahigh frequency VHF = Very high frequency HF = High frequency... ROSAT image of X-ray fluorescence of, and occultation of the X-ray background by, the Moon. ... A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). ... Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. ... Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than soft X-rays. ...

Space observatories can generally be divided into two classes: missions which map the entire sky (surveys), and observatories which make observations of chosen parts of the sky.

Many space observatories have already completed their missions, while others are still operating. Satellites have been launched by NASA, ESA and the Japanese Space Agency. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 17 member states. ...

NASA's Great Observatories

Satellites belonging to NASA's "Great Observatories" program:

• The Space Telescope (ST), now known as Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is the optical Great Observatory. Launched April 24, 1990.

• The Gamma ray Observatory (GRO), since renamed to The Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory, had to be disposed of after several years of productive life. Its gyroscopes began to fail and when it was down to its last gyroscope, the choice was to risk losing control or destroying the observatory. NASA de-orbited the bus-sized satellite into the Pacific Ocean in 2000.

• X-Rays are also represented in the Great Observatories, with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, renamed (from AXAF) in honor of the great Indian astrophysicist Chandrasekhar. This has been used to great effect to study distant galaxies and is still operational.

• The Spitzer Space Telescope is the fourth observatory, originally called the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, SIRTF, launched on August 24, 2003.

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope in orbit around the Earth. ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about electromagnetic radiation. ... Illustration of CGRO The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory(CGRO) was the second of the NASA Great Observatories to be launched to space, following the Hubble Space Telescope. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... In the NATO phonetic alphabet, X-ray represents the letter X. An X-ray picture (radiograph) taken by Röntgen An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength approximately in the range of 5 pm to 10 nanometers (corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 PHz... For other uses, see Chandra (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Indian-American physicist. ... NGC 4414, a typical spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices, is about 56,000 light years in diameter and approximately 60 million light years distant. ... The Spitzer Space Telescope Facility launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Monday, Aug. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other notable space observatories

• IRAS, which performed an all-sky survey in infrared, as well as discovering disks of dust and gas around many nearby stars, such as Fomalhaut, Vega and Beta Pictoris. This ceased functioning in 1983 and has since re-entered the atmosphere.

• ISO (Infrared Space Observatory), an ESA (European Space Agency) mission, followed IRAS and carried out observations at infra-red wavelengths.

• IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer), an ESA/NASA/UK observatory that was launched in 1978 with a planned lifetime of 3 years. It was eventually switched off in 1996.

• SOHO is a solar observatory that is currently operational and used for the study of the Sun's corona and magnetic environments. SOHO has revolutionised our knowledge of the Sun.

• SCISAT-1 is a Canadian satellite which observes Earth's upper atmosphere with an optical Fourier transform infrared spectrometer.

• Uhuru, the first (1970) X-Ray space observatory.

• HEAO (High Energy Astronomy Observatories) 1 and 2, subsequent (1978) X-Ray space observatories.

• Hipparcos was a satellite for measuring stellar parallax. Despite significant operational problems, it revised the Cepheid variable star distance scale to great accuracy and has been invaluable for all branches of observational astronomy by furnishing scientists with extremely accurate "standard candles" for measuring distances.

• MOST was launched in 2003 for the Canadian Space Agency and it is the smallest space telescope in the world, being the size of a small chest or a very large suitcase. It is expected to last five years.

• The ASTRO-F Space Telescope, built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (though with some Korean and European involvement) was launched in February 2006, and will make a deep map of the whole sky at mid infrared and far infrared wavelengths.

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was a space-based observatory that performed a survey of the entire sky at infrared wavelengths. ... The Pleiades star cluster A star is a massive body of plasma in outer space that is currently producing or has produced energy through nuclear fusion. ... Fomalhaut (α PsA / α Piscis Austrini / Alpha Piscis Austrini) is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... Orihime redirects here. ... Beta Pictoris (β Pic / β Pictoris) is the second brightest star in the constellation Pictor. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)is a space telescope for infrared light designed and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). ... The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 17 member states. ... International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) was an astronomical observatory satellite primarily designed to take ultraviolet spectra. ... The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a spacecraft that was launched on 2 December 1995 to study the sun, and began normal operations in May 1996. ... The Sun is the star at the center of Earths solar system. ... SCISAT-1 is a Canadian satellite designed to make observations of the Earths atmosphere. ... // Headline text Bold text:For Acoustic uses in spectrographs of sound waves, see below. ... Uhuru is the Swahili word for freedom. Uhuru may also refer to: Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa Uhuru Movement, a black power movement. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... The first of NASAs three High Energy Astronomy Observatories, HEAO 1 was launched aboard an Atlas Centaur rocket on 12 August 1977 and operated until 9 January 1979. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Hipparcos (for High Precision Parallax Collecting Satellite) was an astrometry mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) dedicated to the measurement of stellar parallax and the proper motions of stars. ... Parallax (Greek: παραλλαγή (parallagé) = alteration) is the change of angular position of two stationary points relative to each other as seen by an observer, due to the motion of an observer. ... A Cepheid variable is a member of a particular class of variable stars, notable for a fairly tight correlation between their period of variability and absolute stellar luminosity. ... Radio telescopes are among many different tools used by astronomers Astronomy (Greek: αστρονομία = άστρον + νόμος, astronomia = astron + nomos, literally, law of the stars) is the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earths atmosphere, such as stars, planets, comets, auroras, galaxies, and the cosmic background radiation. ... The Microvariability and Oscillations of STars telescope or the MOST space observatory is Canadas first and (as of mid-2005) only space telescope. ... The Canadian Space Agency (CSA or, in French, lAgence spatiale canadienne, ASC) is the Canadian government space agency responsible for Canadas space program. ... Artists conception of ASTRO-F ASTRO-F (or Akari) is an infrared astronomy satellite developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in cooperation with institutes of Europe and Korea. ... The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (宇宙航空研究開発機構; Ucyū-Koukū-Kenkyū-Kaihatsu-Kikou), or JAXA (ジャクサ; Jakusa), is Japans national aerospace agency. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation. ...

Future space observatories

• The Herschel Space Observatory will be launched by the European Space Agency in 2007 to study the far infrared and submillimeter wavelengths.

• The James Webb Space Telescope is intended to replace the Hubble Space Telescope and is planned for launch between 2009 and 2011.

The Herschel Space Observatory is a mission of the European Space Agency. ... The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 17 member states. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation. ... The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a planned orbital infrared observatory, intended (in part) to replace the aging Hubble Space Telescope. ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope in orbit around the Earth. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Observatory
• Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes
• Timeline of telescopes, observatories, and observing technology