ASTROSAT : A Broad Spectral Band Indian Astronomy Satellite
Abstract
A broad spectral band astronomy satellite named as Astrosat covering optical and ultraviolet bands as well as a broad x-ray spectral region from 0.3 - 100 keV, is under development in India. This satellite is aimed at multiwavelength observations and broad band x-ray spectral and temporal studies of a variety of galactic and extragalactic cosmic sources. The satellite will be able to make high time resolution studies and low and medium energy resolution spectroscopic studies simultaneously in the optical, ultraviolet and x-ray bands using several coaligned instruments. The four x-ray instruments onboard ASTROSAT will be : (1) Three identical coaligned xenon-filled proportional counters with an effective area of 6000 cm2 and 15 cm depth filled with 3 atmospheres of xenon covering energy range of 2-80 keV for high resolution timing and low resolution spectral studies. (2) A Soft x-ray imaging telescope based on the use of conical foil mirrors and x-ray CCD as the focal plane detector with an effective area of about 200 cm2 at 1 keV covering energy range of 0.3 - 8 keV. (3) A Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride array of 1000 cm2 area with coded-mask aperture for hard x-ray imaging and moderate energy resolution x-ray spectroscopic studies in 10 - 100 keV band. (4) A Scanning Sky X-ray Monitor covering energy range of 2 - 10 keV for the detection of transient sources and monitoring of known bright x-ray sources. An Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, consisting of two identical telescopes, each with a primary mirror of 40 cm diameter with a photon mounting detector system, is also included in the Astrosat. One telescope will cover 1300 - 2000 Å band and also optical band of 5000 - 6000 Å. The second telescope will be sensitive in 2000 - 3000 Å band. Detailed characteristics of the satellite, its various instruments and their sensitivities will be presented in this paper
- Publication:
-
34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002cosp...34E.593A