EXOSAT: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The '''Exosat''' [ | The '''Exosat''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite satellite] was operational from May 1983 until April 1986 and in that time made 1780 observations in the [[X-rays|X-ray]] band of most classes of astronomical object including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_galactic_nuclei active galactic nuclei], stellar coronae, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataclysmic_variable cataclysmic variables], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_dwarf white dwarfs], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_binary X-ray binaries], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_groups_and_clusters clusters of galaxies], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova_remnant supernova remnants]. The payload consisted of three instruments that produced spectra, images and light curves in various energy bands. | ||
This ESA satellite for direct-pointing and lunar-occultation observation of X-ray sources beyond the solar system was launched into a highly eccentric orbit (apogee 200,000 km, perigee 500 km) almost perpendicular to that of the moon on May 26, 1983. The instrumentation includes two low-energy imaging telescopes (LEIT) with Wolter I X-ray optics (for the 0.04-2 keV energy range), a medium-energy experiment using Ar/CO<sub>2</sub> and Xe/CO<sub>2</sub> detectors (for 1.5-50 keV), a Xe/He gas scintillation spectrometer (GSPC) (covering 2-80 keV), and a reprogrammable onboard data-processing computer. Exosat is capable of observing an object (in the direct-pointing mode) for up to 80 hours and of locating sources to within at least 10 arcsec with the LEIT and about 2 arcsec with GSPC.<ref name=Hoff>{{cite journal |author=Hoff HA |title=EXOSAT - The new extrasolar X-ray observatory |journal=J Brit Interplan Soc. (Space Chronicle) |month=Aug |volume=36 |issue=8 |year=1983 |pages=363-7 |url=http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=TRD&recid=A8339971AH&q=&uid=788028604&setcookie=yes }}</ref> | This ESA satellite for direct-pointing and lunar-occultation observation of X-ray sources beyond the solar system was launched into a highly eccentric orbit (apogee 200,000 km, perigee 500 km) almost perpendicular to that of the moon on May 26, 1983. The instrumentation includes two low-energy imaging telescopes (LEIT) with Wolter I X-ray optics (for the 0.04-2 keV energy range), a medium-energy experiment using Ar/CO<sub>2</sub> and Xe/CO<sub>2</sub> detectors (for 1.5-50 keV), a Xe/He gas scintillation spectrometer (GSPC) (covering 2-80 keV), and a reprogrammable onboard data-processing computer. Exosat is capable of observing an object (in the direct-pointing mode) for up to 80 hours and of locating sources to within at least 10 arcsec with the LEIT and about 2 arcsec with GSPC.<ref name=Hoff>{{cite journal |author=Hoff HA |title=EXOSAT - The new extrasolar X-ray observatory |journal=J Brit Interplan Soc. (Space Chronicle) |month=Aug |volume=36 |issue=8 |year=1983 |pages=363-7 |url=http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=TRD&recid=A8339971AH&q=&uid=788028604&setcookie=yes }}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 18:40, 8 July 2009
The Exosat satellite was operational from May 1983 until April 1986 and in that time made 1780 observations in the X-ray band of most classes of astronomical object including active galactic nuclei, stellar coronae, cataclysmic variables, white dwarfs, X-ray binaries, clusters of galaxies, and supernova remnants. The payload consisted of three instruments that produced spectra, images and light curves in various energy bands.
This ESA satellite for direct-pointing and lunar-occultation observation of X-ray sources beyond the solar system was launched into a highly eccentric orbit (apogee 200,000 km, perigee 500 km) almost perpendicular to that of the moon on May 26, 1983. The instrumentation includes two low-energy imaging telescopes (LEIT) with Wolter I X-ray optics (for the 0.04-2 keV energy range), a medium-energy experiment using Ar/CO2 and Xe/CO2 detectors (for 1.5-50 keV), a Xe/He gas scintillation spectrometer (GSPC) (covering 2-80 keV), and a reprogrammable onboard data-processing computer. Exosat is capable of observing an object (in the direct-pointing mode) for up to 80 hours and of locating sources to within at least 10 arcsec with the LEIT and about 2 arcsec with GSPC.[1]
References
- ↑ Hoff HA (1983). "EXOSAT - The new extrasolar X-ray observatory". J Brit Interplan Soc. (Space Chronicle). 36 (8): 363–7. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)
External links
- ESA's X-ray Observatory (EXOSAT at ESTEC, ESA) on the internet
Template:Observatory-stub Template:Spacecraft-stub
de:EXOSAT hu:EXOSAT nl:Exosat fi:EXOSAT Template:WikiDoc Sources