Astronomy from Space
Working from the ground, astronomers must contend with the
Earth's atmosphere.
–
In addition to blurring the view due to seeing, the atmosphere also
strongly absorbs some types of electromagnetic radiation.
–
High mountaintops help, in some cases, but space provides the ultimate
solution.
Astronomy from Space
Working from the ground, astronomers must contend with the
Earth's atmosphere.
–
In addition to blurring the view due to seeing, the atmosphere also
strongly absorbs some types of electromagnetic radiation.
–
High mountaintops help, in some cases, but space provides the ultimate
solution.
To avoid the worst of the
atmosphere's absorption,
infrared observations, for
example, must be
conducted from highaltitude aircraft or from
space
The “Great Observatories”
For the last two decades NASA and its international partners
have developed powerful space observatories that span the
electromagnetic spectrum.
Hubble Space
Telescope
(visible)
Spitzer (infrared) Space
Telescope
Compton Gamma-ray
Observatory
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Spitzer
Space
Telecope,
launched in
2003,
provides an
infrared view
of the
universe.
Liquid Helium
cools the
telescope to
less than 10
degrees
above
absolute zero
to make it
sensitive to
the faint
infrared glow
of
astronomical
objects.