I
DM
said]
haic
Iwiij
TOd
tobJ
jemJ
we
of:J
L
descJ
ctivirJ
uipd
oar.
are»l
aid
O'. I
emd
III!
ms."
m
lha!
mi
llmal
omid
men ■
're.
DOW
nuM
■ssaii;
3ys<
N
day d 11 '
suinn* 1
niveis#(
addf
gtiOO.
JS ^
jraalis"’
113;^
i.net
3 rneati(
fiq6.fi>
tudent 11
^aiisi 1 '
.Ofo> #, |
Scil Tech
The Battalion
Page 3 • Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Red eye to the universe
New Spitzer Space Telescope provide scientists with infrared images of space
By Amelia Williamson
THE BATTALION
Scientists now have a new way to peer into the
[vast universe and explore the heavens. Astronomers
lhave examined the cosmos in visible light, using
jthe Hubble Space Telescope; in gamma rays, using
Ithe Compton Gamma Ray Observatory; in X-rays,
lusing the Chandra X-ray Observatory; and now,
[using the Spitzer Space Telescope, they can scan
jthe universe in the infrared.
NASA launched the Spitzer Space Telescope on
[Aug. 25, 2(X)3, and its first observations were
[released on Dec. 18. Spitzer studies parts of the
[universe that cannot be observed using other tele
scopes. It senses infrared radiation, or heat, and
[allows scientists to investigate areas of the universe
[that could not previously be observed because they
[were distant, cold or cloaked in dust, according to
[NASA. Telescopes on Earth cannot detect infrared
[radiation from space because water vapor, carbon
[dioxide and oxygen molecules in Earth’s atmos-
[phere absorb a lot of the radiation.
The Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly called
[the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, was named
[after Dr. Lyman Spitzer Jr. (1914-1997). Spitzer
[was a physicist at Vale. Columbia and Princeton
[universities and, in 1946, he put forward the idea
[that space telescopes would allow scientists to
[observe the universe in wavelengths of light that are
[absorbed by Earth's atmosphere and cannot be
[observed from Earth, according to space.com.
“Every time you have a quantum jump in tech-
Jnology. there's a quantum jump in the knowledge
[of our universe,” said Dr. Roland Allen of the A&M
Department of Physics.
“We have had two giant jumps (that led to
advances in astronomy). Galileo gave us the tele-
jscope, and Spitzer is the one who, by hard work,
(got us above the Earth’s atmosphere.”
The first observations of the Spitzer Space
[Telescope amazed scientists. 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 col
lected 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
Did you know that a single organ
and tissue donor can help U P^
50 people in need.
PASS IT ON
As an organ donor, you can choose to save the lives of
people suffering from organ failure, diabetes, cancer and
heart disease. You also have the power to cure blindness
to restore amputated limbs, and heal those sufferino from’
severe burns through tissue donation. Learn mnro Lh
save lives. mure and
Come talk to us at the MSC
or the Blocker Building on
February 11 from 9am-3pm.
GET THE FACTS
TELL YOUR FAMILY
Organ Donor Card
sib
www.donorworld.com
1.800.355.7427
www.organ.org
1.800.788.8058
_ have spoken to my f am«y about organ
' a ^B^STTwrsh to donate the fottowtog.
, „„„ needed organs and tissue
\ \ Onty the toiiowing organs and tissue..
Date.
l j tm «rAtab.'n9» do " or
Courtesy of *NA.SA/JPL-CALTECH/B. BRANDL (CORNELL 6c UNIVERSITY OF LEIDEN)
NASA's new Spitzer Space Telescope has captured this stunning image of the Tarantual Nebula, a rich star-forming
region also known as 30 Dorados, which is 170,000 lights years away.
1mm 5mm
Near-Infrared Mid-Infrared |
Diameter of Human Hair
(About 50 m)
Far-Infrared
COURTESY OF • NASA/JPL-CALTECH/B. BRANDL (CORNELL & UNIVERSITY OF LEIDEN)
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 Schom of the A&M Department of
Physics. “The more windows you open, the greater
the picture you get of the universe.”
WATCH DAWG
Person who claims they were among the first
to start downloading movies.
THE NEWEST WAY TO GET HIT MOVIES: DOWNLOAD THEM.
STUDENTS GET 25% OFF* ALL MOVIES AT COLLEGE.MOVIELINK.COM
^3*
Movielink
movies on demand
‘Terms and conditions apply. See website tor details.