Related papers: First Light SOFIA Instruments
We present the first results from a new and unique integral-field spectrograph, SAURON. Based upon the TIGER concept, SAURON uses a lens array to obtain two-dimensional spectroscopy with complete spatial coverage over a field of 33"x41" in…
The Russian 6-m telescope (BTA), once the largest telescope in the world and now the largest optical telescope in Russia, has been successfully operating for almost 45 years. In this paper we briefly overview the observing methods the…
Here we report on the first successful exoplanet transit observation with the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). We observed a single transit of the hot Jupiter HD 189733 b, obtaining two simultaneous primary transit…
The next decade can be considered the "golden age" of the Gamma Ray Astronomy with the two satellites for Gamma Ray Astronomy (AGILE and GLAST) in orbit. Therefore, thanks to many other X-ray experiments already in orbit (e.g. Swift,…
The LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) detectors have just completed their first science run, following many years of planning, research, and development. LIGO is a member of what will be a worldwide network of…
We discuss the first results from our mid-infrared imaging survey of Milky Way Giant HII regions with our detailed analysis of W51A, which is one of the largest GHII regions in our Galaxy. We used the FORCAST instrument on SOFIA to obtain…
The World Space Observatory Project is a new space mission concept, grown out the needs of the Astronomical community to have access to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum where all known physics can be studied on all possible time…
The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) aboard the Hinode satellite (formerly called Solar-B) consists of the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) and the Focal Plane Package (FPP). The OTA is a 50 cm diffraction-limited Gregorian telescope, and the…
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) of the European Space Agency (ESA) will be the first low-frequency gravitational-wave observatory orbiting the Sun at 1 AU. The LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission, aiming at testing of the…
SINFONI is an adaptive optics assisted near-infrared integral field spectrometer for the ESO VLT. The Adaptive Optics Module (built by the ESO Adaptive Optics Group) is a 60-elements curvature-sensor based system, designed for operations…
Upgrades at the 2.3 meter Wyoming Infrared Observatory telescope have provided the capability for fully-remote operations by a single operator from the University of Wyoming campus. A line-of-sight 300 Megabit/s 11 GHz radio link provides…
Over the past decade, sky surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey have proven the power of large data sets for answering fundamental astrophysical questions. This observational progress, based on a synergy of advances in telescope…
ASTRO-F is the second Japanese space mission for infrared astronomy and is scheduled to be launched into a sun-synchronous polar orbit by the Japanese M-V rocket in February 2004. ASTRO-F has a cooled 67 cm telescope with two focal plane…
Taipan is a multi-object spectroscopic galaxy survey starting in 2017 that will cover 2pi steradians over the southern sky, and obtain optical spectra for about two million galaxies out to z<0.4. Taipan will use the newly-refurbished 1.2m…
This paper describes outstanding issues in astrophysics and cosmology that can be solved by astronomical observations in a broad spectral range from far infrared to millimeter wavelengths. The discussed problems related to the formation of…
We review in these notes the status of the construction of the Pierre Auger Observatory and present the first Physics results, based on the data collected during the first year and a half of operation. These results are preliminary, once…
The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes is completing a strategic change for the scientific use of its two telescopes, the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) and the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT). After more than 30 years operating as…
This paper presents the concept of a community-accessible stratospheric balloon-based observatory that is currently under preparation by a consortium of European research institutes and industry. The planned European Stratospheric Balloon…
Context. Due to its great mass and its rapid formation, Jupiter has played a crucial role in shaping the Solar System. The knowledge of its internal structure would strongly constrain the solar system formation mechanism. Seismology is the…
The scientific performance of the Planck Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) after one year of in-orbit operation is presented. We describe the main optical parameters and discuss photometric calibration, white noise sensitivity, and noise…