EXOSAT: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Space_Agency European Space Agency] (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> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 19:13, 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 European Space Agency (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