Spring Break
Red eye to the universe
New Spitzer Space Telescope provide scientists with infrared images of space
By: Amelia Williamson
Issue date: 2/4/04 Section: Sci/Tech
Spitzer revealed the interior structure of the emission nebula IC 1396 and discovered young stars that were hidden in the dusty inner parts of the nebula that astronomers had never been able to study before.
Spitzer also captured images of Messier 81, a nearby spiral galaxy that is similar to the Milky Way galaxy and is located near the Big Dipper. The images showed new features in the galaxy as well as star formation in the galaxy's arms. These new images allow scientists to study star formation on a galactic scale and give astronomers a better idea of how the stars in our galaxy might have formed, according to NASA.
"Infrared is a very valuable tool for looking into regions that are obscured by dust," Allen said. "The biggest impact of the infrared observation is being able to observe the star-forming regions to see how stars come into being."
Spitzer also uncovered an immense disc of debris around the nearby star Fomalhaut. NASA scientists believe this debris is the remnant from the formation of a planetary system. The debris disc had been previously observed by other telescopes, but only Spitzer was able to provide images of the inner region of the disc that is obscured by dust.
Astronomers are now able to study the entire disc, which will help them learn how planetary systems evolve, according to NASA.
Along with the astonishing images, Spitzer collected notable data from a galaxy that is close to 3.25 billion light-years away. In this distant galaxy, Spitzer discovered traces of organic molecules and water that NASA scientists believe originated around the time the first signs of life started to appear on Earth.
The organic molecules were detected by the infrared spectrograph, an instrument on the Spitzer Space Telescope. The spectrograph senses the infrared radiation of an object and produces a spectrum for that object. Astronomers can then analyze the spectrum and determine the chemical makeup of the object.
The Spitzer Space Telescope will change the way astronomers study the sky because it shows them what they cannot see in visible light.
"The infrared that does not get through the earth's atmosphere is the very light that does get through from places where you cannot see visible light," Allen said.
Spitzer will help astronomers to get a better idea of the universe around us and how it works.
"(The Spitzer Space Telescope) opens up a whole new range of wavelengths to look at and opens a new window (in the study of the
universe)," said Dr. Ronald Schorn of the A&M Department of Physics.
"The more windows you open, the greater the picture you get of the universe."
Spitzer also captured images of Messier 81, a nearby spiral galaxy that is similar to the Milky Way galaxy and is located near the Big Dipper. The images showed new features in the galaxy as well as star formation in the galaxy's arms. These new images allow scientists to study star formation on a galactic scale and give astronomers a better idea of how the stars in our galaxy might have formed, according to NASA.
"Infrared is a very valuable tool for looking into regions that are obscured by dust," Allen said. "The biggest impact of the infrared observation is being able to observe the star-forming regions to see how stars come into being."
Spitzer also uncovered an immense disc of debris around the nearby star Fomalhaut. NASA scientists believe this debris is the remnant from the formation of a planetary system. The debris disc had been previously observed by other telescopes, but only Spitzer was able to provide images of the inner region of the disc that is obscured by dust.
Astronomers are now able to study the entire disc, which will help them learn how planetary systems evolve, according to NASA.
Along with the astonishing images, Spitzer collected notable data from a galaxy that is close to 3.25 billion light-years away. In this distant galaxy, Spitzer discovered traces of organic molecules and water that NASA scientists believe originated around the time the first signs of life started to appear on Earth.
The organic molecules were detected by the infrared spectrograph, an instrument on the Spitzer Space Telescope. The spectrograph senses the infrared radiation of an object and produces a spectrum for that object. Astronomers can then analyze the spectrum and determine the chemical makeup of the object.
The Spitzer Space Telescope will change the way astronomers study the sky because it shows them what they cannot see in visible light.
"The infrared that does not get through the earth's atmosphere is the very light that does get through from places where you cannot see visible light," Allen said.
Spitzer will help astronomers to get a better idea of the universe around us and how it works.
"(The Spitzer Space Telescope) opens up a whole new range of wavelengths to look at and opens a new window (in the study of the
universe)," said Dr. Ronald Schorn of the A&M Department of Physics.
"The more windows you open, the greater the picture you get of the universe."
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