Transcript The Spitzer Space Telescope

By
Vinay Patel
Background and Facts
• The Spitzer Space Telescope, abbreviated
SST, is an infrared observatory and the last of
NASA’s Great Observatories.
• It is formerly known as the Space Infrared
Telescope Facility (SIRTF).
• The SST was launched August 25, 2003, for
a mission estimated to last from a minimum of
2.5 years to 5 or more years.
The SST
• Spitzer is the largest infrared
telescope launched into
space.
• At 2,090 lbs and worth $800
million, the Spitzer satellite
carries a 0.85-meter telescope
and three other scientific
instruments:
– IRAC (Infrared Array
Camera)
– IRS (Infrared
Spectrograph)
– MIPS (Multiband Imaging
Photometer for Spitzer)
Orbit
• The SST follows a
rather unusual orbit. It
has a heliocentric orbit
rather than a
geocentric one, so that
it follows the Earth and
its orbit around the
Sun.
• It is currently drifting off
from the Earth at a
speed of about 0.1 AU
per year.
Infrared’s Use
• Because it uses infrared technology, Spitzer has several
advantages that allow astronomers to peer into hidden
regions of the Universe.
• Vast, dense clouds of gas and dust, or interstellar dust, fills
much of space, blocking our view of visible light. Infrared
light, however, can penetrate these clouds, allowing us to
see deeper into the universe.
• Infrared light also allows us to see cooler objects across the
Universe. Some of these objects are too dim to be seen in
visible light, but can be seen using the infrared.
The Mountains of Creation
Protecting the Telescope
• Infrared light, from the Sun, the Earth, and the
telescope itself, can affect images created by the
telescope.
• Since the instruments on Spitzer are very sensitive
(about 1,000 times more sensitive than previous
instruments), the telescope must operate at a
temperature near absolute zero.
• To keep Spitzer operating at a low temperature,
Spitzer is cryogenically cooled, with a dewar filled
with 90 gallons of liquid helium. It also has a solar
shield to avoid infrared from the Sun.
The IRAC
The Real IRAC
• The IRAC (Infrared Array
Camera) is a four-color
(blue, green, yellow, and
red) composite of invisible
light.
• A galaxy, such as NGC
7311, in the infrared would
have brownish red arms,
a yellow ring of star
formation, and a blue
central bulge.
Bibliography
• http://www.ballaerospace.com/sirtf.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitzer_Space_Telescope
• http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/Spitzer_
Space_Telescope.html
• http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?ds
p=fec&ci=14786&rsbci=0&fti=0&ti=0&sc=400
• http://www.spacetoday.org/DeepSpace/Telescopes/G
reatObservatories/SIRTF/SIRTF.html