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SIRTF: Probing the dark corners of the galaxyThe Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is planned for launch by NASA in the mid-1990's. It will be a cryogenically-cooled observatory for infrared astronomy and will carry several focal plane instruments which will provide a wide range of imaging, photometric, and spectroscopic capabilities. SIRTF will build on the scientific and technical progress of the successful IRAS mission and take the next step in the exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths. Most of the observing time during the five-to-ten year SIRTF mission will be available to General Investigators, so there will be ample opportunities for the pursuit of problems originating from within the Space Life Sciences community. Here, a review is given of the capabilities of SIRTF for this style of investigation, using the study of carbon in the Galaxy as a specific example. The very high sensitivity of SIRTF's spectrometers to diffuse emission will allow studies of carbon in both the gaseous and solid phase in the interstellar medium and should be of particular importance for the identification of the carbon-bearing macromolecules believed to be responsible for the emission features identified in the near infrared. SIRTF will also carry out studies of a wide variety of evolved stars which are returning gas and solid phase carbon to the interstellar medium and contribute to our understanding of the carbon budget in the Galaxy. These studies in the area of galactic astronomy will be complemented by detailed investigations of carbon-bearing compounds in solar system objects, including the surfaces of distant asteroids and cometary nuclei which are too faint to be studied in any other way.
Document ID
19900018261
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Werner, Michael W. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA., United States)
Willoughby, Dora S. (Information Management International, Inc., Palo Alto CA., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Carbon in the Galaxy: Studies from Earth and Space
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
90N27577
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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