Space Science in the Twenty-First Century Imperatives for the Decades 1995 to 2015, Overview (1988) / Chapter Skim
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5. Astronomy and Astrophysics
5. Astronomy and Astrophysics
Pages 37-50
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From page 37... ...
Larger optical telescopes collect more photons, and electronic detectors and advanced spectrographs yield more detailed information about the physical state of matter throughout the visible universe than their predecessors. Observations using wavelengths outside the optical window began with radio astronomy and its revelation of entirely 37
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From page 38... ...
High-energy astronomy using x-ray and gamma-ray observations has revealed violent phenomena invisible at other wavelengths. Ultraviolet astronomy allows stellar astronomers to study that region of the spectrum in which the spectral lines of key elements occur, while the development of infrared astronomy reveals yet another aspect of the universe: the interiors of the dark dust clouds where stars and planets are born.
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From page 39... ...
" appear to have a surprising connection with current theories of the fundamental forces between elementary particles. Various versions of current "Grand Unified Theories of the fundamental physical forces lead to evolutionary models of the universe that require the average particle energy to be 1Ots GeV (an equivalent temperature of 1028 K)
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From page 41... ...
at the heart of these mighty engines. There the principles of physics wiD be tested to their limits, for strong gravitational fields such as those near black holes are the least understood and tested of the fundamental force fields.
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The first x-ray astronomy satellite, Uhuru, generated a comprehensive catalog of x-ray stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, and strong evidence was found for a black hole In the constellation Cygnus. In 1973, the Copernicus mission offered the opportunity for ultraviolet spectroscopy of galactic sources and the interstellar medium.
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From page 43... ...
Furthermore, mterferometry methods developed for radio astronomy appear to be directly am plicable to high-resolution optical studies. The ambitious plans for infrared and optical interferometry during the period covered by this study wiD draw directly on this experience.
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From page 44... ...
The Bubble Space Telescope and the Gamma Ray Observatory are due to be launched as soon as the consequences of the Challenger accident are resolved. The evolution of space astronomy in the years that immediately follow these launches has been set out ~ the NRC report Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 19SOs, in which the Astronomy Survey Committee (ASC)
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From page 45... ...
The ability to conduct coordinated observations at various wavy lengths wiD be one of the great benefits of flying these instruments simultaneously. The Astronomy Survey Committee recognized that there is an equally important, far led expensive, component of the space as tronomy program that must not be neglected.
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From page 46... ...
Image Space Telescope Array (b) Long Baseline Optical Space Interferometer (c)
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From page 47... ...
It wiD complement the space interferometer and provide unages 6 times sharper than the HST. It will also be far more sensitive than HST because of its large aperture and small image size (10-2 arcsec for a 15-m diameter telescope in visible light)
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From page 48... ...
This might take the form of a Very High Throughput Facility (VHTF) that could perform the spectroscopy, or an x-ray timing facility that could look for rapidly varying events correlated with the results from gravity wave detectors.
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From page 49... ...
CONCLUSIONS The recommendations of the Astronomy Survey Committee form a valid basis for assessing the expected status of astronomy and astrophysics In 1995. The major science goals for astronomy can be formulated with some reliability.
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From page 50... ...
50 build telescopes with large collecting areas and spectrographs of high throughput. At the sane time, a vigorous exploration program, carried out by Explorer-ciass satellites, promises to supply a sound basis for studies in the even more distant future.
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