The future of space astronomy
Abstract
The goals and techniques of planned observations of astronomical phenomena from orbiting facilities are considered. The advantages of space observatories are reviewed, and the primary questions to be answered are listed. The designs and capabilities of the Space Telescope, the Far-UV Spectrograph in Space, complementary advanced ground-based telescopes, the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility, the Gamma-Ray Observatory, the Very Long Baseline Array (utilizing a single orbiting antenna to increase resolution), the Large Deployable Reflector, the Cosmic Background Explorer, the Shuttle IR Telescope Facility, and the Solar Optical Telescope (to become the Advanced Solar Observatory) are discussed and illustrated with drawings and typical images. The direction of research in the 1990's is indicated, and the need to conduct a significant portion of the observations from the ground is pointed out.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy from Space: Sputnik to Space Telescope
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983ssst.book..193F
- Keywords:
-
- Oao;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Spaceborne Telescopes;
- Technological Forecasting;
- Hubble Space Telescope;
- Large Deployable Reflector;
- Radio Telescopes;
- Solar Optical Telescope;
- Very Long Base Interferometry;
- Very Long Baseline Array (Vlba);
- X Ray Astrophysics Facility;
- Astronomy