Space Astronomy

1997 Volga Space Plasma Physics Summer School Information
The purpose of these Summer Schools, held every second summer onboard a river cruise ship on the Volga and organised jointly by the Radiophysical Research Institute (NIRFI), Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia and the Uppsala Division of the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRFU), Uppsala, Sweden, is to give an introduction to modern space plasma physics by bringing together experienced researchers, young scientists and scholars in astrophysics, space physics and plasma physics for a fruitful exchange of ideas across areas of interest, language, culture and age barriers.
The topics covered include linear and non-linear plasma physics, waves and radiation phenomena in plasma, waves in random media and turbulence, planetary, solar and stellar coronal plasma, plasma under extreme conditions in space, space plasma radio emission, radio methods for investigating space plasma environments, and the use of the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere as a space plasma laboratory for model experiments simulating phenomena in other plasma environments.
1st High Energy Astrophysics Observatory ( HEAO 1. GSFC. NASA )
The first of NASA's three High Energy Astronomy Observatories, HEAO 1 was launched aboard an Atlas Centaur rocket on 12 August 1977 and operated until 9 January 1979. During that time, it scanned the X-ray sky almost three times over 0.2 keV - 10 MeV, provided nearly constant monitoring of X-ray sources near the ecliptic poles, as well as more detailed studies of a number of objects through pointed observations.
2111 Foundation for Exploration
The 2111 Foundation for Exploratas founded to offer grants to expeditions or fieldwork using space technology or work with space related applications. This includes astronomical field excursions or fieldtrips or expeditions undertaking astronomical observations. The Foundation Home Page provides a complete list of eligible expedition categories.
2nd High Energy Astrophysics Observatory ( HEAO 2, renamed Einstein. GSFC. NASA )
The second High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-B) was launched into an approximate 100-min low Earth orbit on 13 November 1978. Renamed the Einstein Observatory, it operated (with one significant interruption) until April 1981 and made over 5,000 targeted observations.
Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers ( AMPTE )
ADS Einstein Archive Service ( Einstein )
This service provides query and retrieval capability for the Einstein X-ray Observatory's processed data archive. The archive includes about 5000 X-ray observations (in astronomical standard FITS format) taken between 1978 and 1981.
Advanced Camera for Surveys ( ACS )
The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) will be installed in the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during a Space Shuttle mission in 1999. ACS will increase the discovery efficiency of the HST by a factor of ten. ACS will consist of three electronic cameras and a complement of filters and dispersers that detect light from the ultraviolet at 1200 angstroms to the near infrared at 10,000 angstroms.
Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics ( ASCA ASTRO-D )
ASCA (formerly named Astro-D) is Japan's fourth cosmic X-ray astronomy mission, and the second for which the United States is providing part of the scientific payload. The satellite was successfully launched February 20, 1993.
Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility ( AXAF. Harvard University )
AXAF, the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility, is the U.S. follow-on to the Einstein Observatory. Originally three instruments and a high-resolution mirror carried in one spacecraft, the project was reworked in 1992 and 1993. The AXAF spacecraft will carry a high resolution mirror, two imaging detectors, and two sets of transmission gratings
All-sky Low Energy Gamma Ray Observatory ( ALEGRO )
ALLEGRO is a proposed MidEx class instrument providing all-sky monitoring of low-energy gamma-rays at unprecedented sensitivity. Unlike previous hard X-ray experiments, there is no time-averaging, data-selection, or triggering on-board: ALLEGRO transmits all events, time-tagged to 1/8th ms and with full energy information. This produces a database of uniformly high resolution in both energy and time, permitting non-triggered, unbiased detection of transient and pulsed events.
Anti-matter Research Through the Earth Moon Ion Spectrometer ( ARTEMIS )
The search for anti-matter in the TeV cosmic rays may be addressed by the means of the Atmospheric Cerenkov Techniques. The shadow of the Moon on the cosmic rays must be split by the Earth magnetic field between an eastward shadow for matter and a westward one for anti-matter. ARTEMIS is a project to observe this effect, carried-on with the 10 m telescope of the Whipple Observatory.
Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors ( ALEXIS )
ALEXIS' X-ray telescopes feature curved mirrors whose multilayer coatings reflect and focus low-energy X-rays or extreme ultraviolet light the way optical telescopes focus visible light. The satellite and payloads were funded by the Department of Energy and built by Los Alamos National Laboratory in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratory and the University of California-Space Sciences Lab. The Launch was provided by the Air Force Space Test Program on a Pegasus Booster on April 25, 1993. The mission is entirely controlled from a small groundstation at LANL.
ASCA Data Facility
The ASCA Data Facility, part of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Astrophysics Data Facility , is responsible for processing low level ASCA data into standard formatted products, distributing ASCA data to American and European Primary (PI) and Guest (GI) investigators, and populating the final ASCA public data archive.
Astro Space Center ( ASC )
The Astro Space Center as a branch of Lebedev Institute of Physics has a number of commitments for space experiments in the areas of upper atmospheric, solar, and astronomical research aboard Radioastron , Kvant and other space projects. Division scientists are involved in major research thrusts that include interferometric observations, studies of the solar atmosphere by using spectrographic techniques, and studies of astronomical ranging from the ultraviolet through cosmic rays. The division maintains facilities to design, construct, assemble, and calibrate space experiments.
Astro-2 ( Astro-2. MSFC. NASA )
Astro-2 is a high-tech observatory flying for 16 days in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-67 mission. The Astro-2 instruments allow astronomers to view stars, galaxies, planets and quasars in ultraviolet light, which is invisible to our eye
AXAF [Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility] Science Center ( ASC )
The ASC is located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The purpose of the ASC is to provide the support required by the science community to realize fully the potential of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF).
Broad Band X-ray Telescope ( BBXRT. GSFC. NASA )
The Broad Band X-ray Telescope (BBXRT) was flown on the space shuttle Columbia (STS-35) on 1990 December 2-December 11, as part of the ASTRO-1 payload. The flight of BBXRT marked the first opportunity for performing X-ray observations over a broad energy range (0.3-12 keV) with a moderate energy resolution (typically 90 eV and 150 eV at 1 and 6 keV, respectively).
CEA abstracts and publications
WAIS index to the publications and abstracts of papers issued by the Center for EUV Astrophysics (CEA), Berkeley, CA.
CEA WWW pages
WAIS index to the WWW pages of the Center for Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Astrophysics (CEA), Berkeley, CA.
Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Astrophysics ( CEA /EUVE )
The EUVE Guest Observer Center provides information, software, and data to EUVE Guest Observers. The EUVE Public Archive is creating a set of CD-ROMs of EUVE observations. There is also an AnonFTP server which contains the publicly available documents from the EUVE GO Center, the IRAF/EUV software, and the publicly available archive data from EUVE. - README
CLUSTER, ESA's spacefleet to the magnetosphere
The Cluster mission of the European Space Agency is a four-spacecraft mission to carry out three-dimensional measurements in the Earth's magnetosphere, covering both large- and small-scale phenomena in the sunward and tail regions.
COBRAS/SAMBA
COBRAS/SAMBA is an ESA project designed to image the anisotropies of the Cosmic Background Radiation Field over the whole sky, with unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution. COBRAS/SAMBA will provide a major source of information relevant to several cosmological and astrophysical issues, such as testing theories of the early universe and the origin of cosmic structure.
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Bulletin Board (PDSSBN, U.Maryland)
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collision with Jupiter (ESO)
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collision with Jupiter (NASA-GSFC)
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collision with Jupiter (NASA-JPL)
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collision with Jupiter (SEDS-LPL, Ariz.)
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Encounters Jupiter - Latest HST Images (STScI)
Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales ( CONAE, Argentina )
Information on the Centro Regional de Datos Satelitales (CREDAS) and on Argentina's National Space Plan
Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory ( CGRO. GSFC. NASA )
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory is the second of NASA's Great Observatories. Compton, at 17 tons, the heaviest astrophysical payload ever flown, was launched on April 5, 1991 aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. Compton has four instruments that cover an unprecedented six decades of the electromagnetic spectrum, from 30 keV to 30 GeV
Compton Observatory Science Support Center ( COSSC. GSFC. NASA )
The COSSC data archive contains information and data related to the following experiments
Compton/GRO FTP Directories
Compton/GRO News - GRONEWS
Compton/GRO Observatory Science Support Center/Guest Observer ( Facility )
Query the Library Database; Archive Data Selector; Archive Data Selector Demonstrator; Trouble Report Generator; Access the GRONEWS Bulletin Board
COSB
Overview of the COS-B mission. The COS-B event files are available for world wide access within the EXOSAT Database
COsmic Background Explorer ( COBE )
Danish Space Research Institute ( DSRI, Denmark )
Darwin ( Space IR Interferometry Mission )
Darwin is a proposal for a European infrared interferometer in space. Its first aim is to detect Earth-like planets around nearby stars, and then to search for a signature of life, ozone in an atmosphere.

It would also be capable of being used as a general-purpose infrared observatory.

Darwin was proposed to the European Space Agency (ESA) for a Cornerstone Mission in its Horizon 2000 Plus plan. In October 1995, ESA decided to study such an infrared interferometer as an option for its Interferometer Cornerstone. The Darwin and Edison teams have combined to promote the selection by ESA of this option. The Darwin advocacy team members are also members of the International Working Group on Space Interferometry , a pressure group for this type of mission.

Dpto. Astrofisica. I. Fisica de Cantabria
This is the Home Page of the Astrophysics Department of the Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria at Santander, Spain. This is a center supported by the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Cantabria. People here works in Extragalactic Astrophysics. These pages contain their work and interests as well as some miscellaneous information.
Einstein Observatory
ESA - Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station ( ESA - VILSPA: IUE, ISO )
General information on the ESA Satellite Tracking Station and on the projects supported at Villafranca: IUE, Marecs and ISO (in the near future). The service includes links to other ESA Establishments.
ESA/ESTEC Astrophysics Division
An overview of the activities of the Astrophysics Division, information of the projects, location, etc.: local information - staff, general news, job vacancies, meetings and symposia, astrophysics research activities at ESTEC, ESA astronomy project activities, astronomical data archives. Links to several sites likely to be useful to astronomers are also provided.
ESO / ST-ECF Data Archive
European Southern Observatory / Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility
ESRIN - European Space Agency ( ESRIN )
ESRIN is one of the four establishements of the European Space Agency. ESRIN's main activities are centered on the acquisition, archiving and dissemination of data from Earth Observation missions in particular ERS-1 for which it is responsible for operating the ground infrastructure needed. ESRIN's main function is as the Agency's data handling and dissemination centre, being at the forefront of technologically advanced information systems.
European Space Agency ( ESA )
Main access points are:
European Space Operations Centre ( ESA/ESOC )
ESOC is the satellite control centre of the European Space Agency (ESA). It is responsible for the operations of all satellites and related ground stations and communications network.
European X-ray Observatory Satellite Data Center ( EXOSAT at ESTEC. ESA )
Payload description
European X-ray Observatory ( EXOSAT at GSFC. NASA )
The European Space Agency's X-ray Observatory, EXOSAT, was operational from May 1983 to April 1986. During that time, EXOSAT made 1780 observations of a wide variety of objects, including active galactic nuclei, stellar coronae, cataclysmic variables, white dwarfs, X-ray binaries, clusters of galaxies, and supernova remnants.
Exploration of Neighboring Planetary Systems ( ExNPS )
NASA's plan for the Exploration of Neighboring Planetary Systems (ExNPS) consists of a long term program of continuous scientific discovery and technological development leading ultimately to the detection and characterization of Earth-like planets around nearby stars.
Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer ( FUSE )
Information on the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, a satellite astronomy project based at The Johns Hopkins University
Gamma-Ray Astronomy with COMPTEL ( MPE Garching )
Local project documentation and utilities as well as collaboration-wide information sources are maintained by the MPE COMPTEL people for: COMPTEL Data Reduction Group work: documents, scientific results and utilities used by the data analysts, the processing team and the scientists. COMPASS software system work : technical and management documents, used and maintained by the MPE software team. the local computing environment : documents on system configuration, maintained by the MPE/RZG software team. MPE - COMPTEL People Matters: the weekly activity list individual 'home pages'
Gloabal Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics ( GAIA )
GAIA is a preliminary concept for a second space astrometry mission (after HIPPARCOS), recently recommended within the context of ESA's Horizon 2000 Plus long-term scientific programme. It is aimed at the broadest possible astrophysical exploitation of optical interferometry using a modest baseline length.
Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph Investigation Definition Team ( GHRS-IDT )
The GHRS is one of four axial instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope and is designed to obtain UV spectra over a wide range of resolutions. This page was set up as a reference source for team members and other users of the instrument.
High Energy Astrophysics at CASS
High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center ( HEASARC )
The purpose of the HEASARC is to support a multi-mission archive facility in high energy astrophysics for scientists all over the world. Data from space-borne instruments on spacecraft, such as ROSAT, ASCA (formerly Astro-D), GRO (Compton), BBXRT, HEAO 1, HEAO 2 (Einstein), EXOSAT, and XTE are provided, along with a knowledgeable science-user support staff and tools to analyze mutliple datasets. The HEASARC activity is a joint effort between the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics (LHEA)and the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC). (there is also a Gopher )
High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment
The HEXTE is one of 3 instruments on board the X-ray Timing Explorer (XTE), which is scheduled for launch in 1995 October. It is sensitive to X-rays from 15 to 250 keV and can provide timing information down to 8 microseconds.
High-Energy Antimatter Telescope ( HEAT )
A description of the HEAT (High-Energy, Antimatter Telescope) instrument, a high-altitude-balloon-borne detector of antimatter, flown by NASA's NSBF (National Scientific Balloon Facility) branch.
High-Throughput X-Ray Spectroscopy Mission ( XMM. ESTEC. ESA )
XMM is an X-ray astrophysics observatory under development by the European Space Agency for operation around the turn of the century. This facility-class observatory, with an anticipated lifetime of over ten years, will enable astronomers to conduct sensitive X-ray spectroscopic observations of a wide variety of cosmic sources
Hiraiso Solar Terrestrial Research Center/CRL
Hiraiso Solar Terrestrial Research Center/CRL, Ibaraki, Japan. Serving space environment information inculding forecasts and alerts of solar flares and geomagnetic storms. Relating observed data are also available.
Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope ( HUT )
Astronomers at the Johns Hopkins University designed the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) to explore the far- and extreme-ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. HUT has a 36-inch primary mirror which collects ultraviolet light for a prime-focus spectrograph. The spectrograph disperses light in the 825 to 1850 Angstrom wavelength range with a resolution of 3 Angstroms
HST literature
WAIS index to a bibliography of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) related literature. The underlying database is a copy of the list maintained by Sarah Stevens-Rayburn, STScI Librarian.
HST status
WAIS index to daily activity / instrument status information for the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Files hst_status_* in stsci/hst_news directory on STEIS are indexed.
HST WF/PC-1 images
WAIS index to images obtained with the WF/PC-1 camera on board the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST), retrievable via full-text search of the associated observing proposals
Hubble Space Telescope - an artist's view
Hubble Space Telescope - pictures
Publicly released images from post-servicing observations by Hubble Space Telescope. The images in this directory are in GIF format which supports up to 256 colors (8-bits). They include 30 Doradus, 47 Tucanae, Comet 1993e, Eta Carinae, Mars, M31, M87, M100, NGC1068, NGC2440, NGC6624, NGC7252, Nova Cygni, Orion (incl. animation), QSO1220+204, the Saturn storm, SL-9, SN1987A (with rings), and SN1994I. The images have originally been made available by the Office of Public Outreach of the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Hubble Space Telescope picture gallery
a mousable sequence of press release photographs taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Hubble Space Telescope public images and other information
images, movies and animations from some of the observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST). They are made available by the Office of Public Outreach of the Space Telescope Science Institute. See also: TIFFs & GIFs ( Levay), ExInEd (Macs-only)
Hubble Space Telescope ( HST - from CADC )
Also, there is a page from ST-ECF .
Infrared Space Observatory - 1 ( ISO )
Coordinated information on ISO is available at:
Infrared Space Observatory - 2 ( ISO )
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), a fully approved and funded project of the European Space Agency (ESA), will operate at wavelengths from 2.5 - 200 microns. The satellite essentially consists of a large liquid-helium cryostat, a telescope with a 60-cm diameter primary mirror and four scientific instruments. The instrument complement is: an imaging photo-polarimeter, a camera, a short wavelength spectrometer and a long wavelength spectrometer. ISO is scheduled to be launched in late 1995 and will be operational for at least 18 months. In keeping with ISO's role as an observatory, two-thirds of its observing time will be made available to the general astronomical community.
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale ( IAS )
Space Astrophysics Institute, Orsay, French center for ESA's Infrared Observatory (ISO) [text in French]
Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics ( ITA )
Information about scientific activities and staff members.
International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory ( INTEGRAL. ESTEC. ESA )
Technical status of Integral. The mission utilises the service module (bus) under development for the ESA XMM project. Integral will be launched in 2001. The mission is conceived as an observatory led by ESA with contributions from Russia and NASA
International Small Satellite Organization ( ISSO MicroSpace Network )
The ISSO MicroSpace Network is an information clearinghouse for anyone interested in small and low cost space programs. Our server is available 24 hours a day for those seeking company and product information, as well as news and stories of general interest to the space enthusiast.
International Space Science Institute
ISSI is an Institute in Switzerland at which scientists from different countries can work together. Its main task is to contribute to the achievement of a deeper understanding of the results from space-research missions, adding value to those results through multi-disciplinary research in an atmosphere of international cooperation.
International Ultraviolet Explorer Satellite ( IUE )
International Ultraviolet Explorer ( IUE )
The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite was launched on the 26th of January 1978 by a Thor-Delta rocket from Cape Kennedy and transferred into a geosynchronous orbit over the Atlantic Ocean. Information on the project is available at:
Italian Space Agency ( ASI )
IUE Data Analysis Center ( IUEDAC )
The International Ultraviolet Explorer Regional Data Analysis Facilities (RDAF) were established in 1982 to assist users in the interpretation and analysis of IUE data. Programs written using the Interactive Data Language (IDL) have allowed users to reduce and analyze IUE spectral data, display images, perform various database searches and convert IUE data sets into various formats such as FITS, ASCII text, etc. In 1993, the Colorado RDAF was closed, and the RDAF at GSFC was renamed the IUE Data Analysis Center (IUEDAC).
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Image/Information Archives ( JPL )
This is a public access computer site containing information on and images from missions conducted by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; it is operated by the JPL Public Information Office. Contents of the site include:
-- JPL news releases, status reports, fact sheets and other data on JPL missions.
-- Images from JPL missions as GIF computer files. These may be displayed on various makes of computers; viewing software may also be downloaded.
-- Back issues of JPL's in-house newspaper, Universe.
In addition, teacher materials provided by the JPL Public Education Office are planned to be added shortly.
Subdirectories are named archive, educator, images, missions, news, sircxsar, software, universe and file whats.new.
JPL Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry Project ( VSOP )
This project supports the VSOP (VLBI Space Observatory Programme) mission led by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan, and the RadioAstron mission led by the Astro Space Center of the Lebedev Physical Institute in Russia. VSOP is scheduled for launch in September 1996, while RadioAstron is scheduled for launch in 1997. Each mission involves an orbiting 8-10 meter radio telescope dedicated to astronomical radio interferometry experiments using baselines formed between the spacecraft and a number of ground radio telescopes. A variety of information is now on line, describing the JPL Project, each of the space missions, and the science goals of the missions.
Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletins ( LPIB )
Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin, Lunar and Planetary Institute / Universities Space Research Association
Magellan Mission to Venus - Online Resources ( PDS Imaging Node. JPL. NASA )
The Magellan spacecraft was launched on May 4, 1989, arrived at Venus on August 10, 1990 and was inserted into a near-polar elliptical orbit with a periapsis altitude of 294 km at 9.5 deg. N. Radio contact with the spacecraft was lost on October 12, 1994. The service provides a comprehensive description of the mission, including images and catalogue
Magellan Mission to Venus
NASA's Magellan spacecraft made a dramatic conclusion to its highly successful mission at Venus when it is commanded to plunge into the planet's dense atmosphere Tuesday, October 11, 1994. During its four years in orbit around Earth's sister planet, the spacecraft has radar-mapped 98 percent of the surface and collected high-resolution gravity data of Venus. The purpose of the crash landing is to gain data on the planet's atmosphere and on the performance of the spacecraft as it descends. Up-to-date status reports will be available from this WWW page, which also offers Venus images and other highlights from the mission.
Mars Atlas ( -- online USGS maps and VO image finder )
A WWW-browsable, zoomable and scrollable atlas of USGS images of Mars, showing the locations (footprints) of thousands of high-resolution Viking Orbiter images.
Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
The Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik is located at Heidelberg, Germany. It was founded by Wolfgang Gentner as a research centre for nuclear physics in 1958. The present major research areas include nuclear and particle physics, space science, cosmic ray research and other topics.
MOnitoring X-ray Experiment ( MOXE )
The MOnitoring X-ray Experiment (MOXE) is an X-ray all-sky monitor to be launched on the Russian Spectrum-X-Gamma satellite in 1996. It will monitor several hundred X-ray sources on a daily basis, and will be the first instrument to monitor the complete X-ray sky simultaneously. MOXE is built by Los Alamos Nat Lab, Goddard Space Flight Center and Space Research Institute (Moscow).
Multiwavelength Atlas of Galaxies
A Multiwavelength Atlas of Galaxies is presented as an educational tool for high school students. Optical, X-ray, Far-Infrared and Radio images are shown for a variety of nearby galaxies. Text describing the physical mechanisms of the different types of radiation, and their astronomical sources is supplied.
NASA - Pioneer Project Home Page ( NASA/Ames )
NASA SCAN
WAIS index to abstracts from NASA's Selected Current Space Aeronautics (SCAN) abstract service
NASA Shuttle flights - pictures
Pretty pictures from many NASA Shuttle flights, including STS-61 in December 1993 to service the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The images in this directory are mirrored from the sites at: ftp://explorer.arc.nasa.gov/pub/SPACE/SHUTTLE, and ftp://sseop.jsc.nasa.gov/
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
Informational, educational, dynamic and interactive.
Naval Research Laboratory Space Science Division ( NRL SSD )
Division scientists are involved in major research thrusts that include ultraviolet remote sensing of the upper atmosphere, studies of the solar atmosphere by using spectrographic techniques, and studies of atronomical radiation ranging from the ultraviolet through cosmic rays. This includes the mission operations and data analysis facilities for NRL's OSSE experiment on NASA's Compton Observatory. Contains links to Backgrounds Data Center, X-ray Astronomy Branch, Gamma and Cosmic Ray Astrophysics Branch, Solar Physics Branch, Coronal Physics Section, Far-Ultraviolet Cameras Experiment, and more.
Next Generation Space Telescope ( NGST )
The Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) is a critical component of NASA's Origins Program. It will be a telescope of aperture greater than 4m, radiatively cooled to 30 - 60 deg.K, permitting extremely deep exposures at near infrared wavelengths with a 10 year life. A key requirement is to break the HST cost paradigm through the use of new technology and management methods. This site is designed to serve as the starting point for finding online NGST Study documentation.
Nonproliferation and International Security ( NIS/LANL )
NIS division projects ALEXIS Array of Low Energy X-ray Sensors BLACKBEARD A Broadband spaceborne RF detector experiment. FORTE Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events LAPP Los Alamos Portable Pulser MOXE MOnitoring X-ray Experiment for Astronomy HETE High Energy Transient Experiment for Astronomy DAHW Deployable Adaptive Processing Hardware X-ray data from P78-1 Energetic Particle data set for the CPA and SOPA detectors Magnetospheric Plasma Analyzer (MPA data) Multi-angle Imaging SpectoRadiometer (MISR) Oblique High Frequency Sounder NIS-7 projects Ulysses Solar Wind Observations Over the Poles of the Sun (SWOOPS) experiment General interest subjects Coded aperture imaging in high-energy astronomy (intro, instruments, bibliography) Research on celestial gamma-ray bursts in NIS-2 (preprints, links) The interests in astrophysics of the Astrophysics and Radiation Measurements Group (NIS-2) focus on gamma-ray bursts, x-ray binaries, accretion- and rotation-powered pulsars, neutron star dynamics, atomic processes in astrophysical sources, soft x-ray and EUV backgrounds, and EUV and soft x-ray transients such as flare stars. An important mission of the group is to develop new types of optical, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma-ray detectors for ground and space applications. The group has flown high-energy instruments on Pioneer Venus Orbiter, the ISEE-3 (ICE), P78-1, Vela satellites, and the Japanese satellite Ginga. The group is currently developing experiments for several scientific missions including the X-ray Multimirror Mission (XMM), High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE), MARS-96, and the MOXE all sky x-ray monitor on the Russian Spectrum X-Gamma satellite project, and is the lead institution operating the Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors (ALEXIS) satellite and its wide field-of-view ultrasoft x-ray telescope array. The group is actively participating in Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) research through several guest investigator projects, and is also involved in establishing the growing-up Fenton Hill Observatory in the Jemez mountains, which includes an ultra-high-energy gamma-ray telescope, Milagro.
North Carolina State University - Mars Mission Research Center
Co-located at North Carolina State University in Raleigh (NCSU) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro (A&T), the Mars Mission Research Center (M2RC) is one of eight University Space Engineering Centers established by NASA in 1988. The goal of the Center is to focus on research and educational technologies necessary for planetary exploration, especially transportation to and from Mars.
NSSDC Photo Gallery
The images presented in the Photo Gallery have a number of different sources, primarily NASA missions, however. They are generally organized by object and/or phenomenon on separate pages. The source of the image as well as the processing involved in producing the image have been included whereever possible. Photo captions for some images are also available.
OAO-3 (Copernicus) Archive
The third Orbiting Astronomical Observatory was launched by NASA from Cape Kennedy by an Atlas-Centaur Rocket on August 21, 1972. The satellite, named Copernicus, was designed to seek answers to some of the fundamental questions concerning stars and interstellar matter. The principal viewing device was a 32-inch (0.8m) diameter reflecting telescope and ultraviolet spectrometer system. The instrument was designed, built, and operated by the Princeton University Observatory, with Professor Lyman Spitzer, Jr. as Principal investigator. Copernicus was operated until February 1981
Observatory, University of Helsinki
Proc. Workshop " Calibrating Hubble Space Telescope"
The proceedings from the HST Calibration Workshop held at the Space Telescope Science Institute November 15-17, 1993. These proceedings include discussions on the calibration of each instrument, including the Fine Guidance Sensors. There is also a general section that includes papers on the Optical Telescope Assembly, the HST Calibration Database and information on the calibration of other space observatories namely, the IUE and the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. Check the table of contents for a full listing. For the user's convenience this book is available both by individual paper and by hefty chunks of postscript for each section: WFPC, FOC, FOS, GHRS and General. The latter method is most useful for those of you who want to collect the whole book. The main text of the book is 442 pages.
Proc. Workshop " The Restoration of HST Images and Spectra"
Proceedings of a Workshop held at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 18-19 November 1993. Edited by Robert J. Hanisch (hanisch@stsci.edu) and Richard L. White (rlw@stsci.edu). Advanced Systems Group, Science Computing and Research Support Division, Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218
ROentgen SATellite ( ROSAT at GSFC. NASA )
ROSAT, the ROentgen SATellite, is an X-ray observatory developed through a cooperative program between the Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The satellite was designed and is operated by Germany, and was launched by the United States on June 1, 1990.
ROSAT Public Data Archive
Data archive of the X-ray satellite ROSAT
ROSAT
Roentgen Satellite (X-ray satellite) operated by the Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Garching, Germany
SAtellite for Measurement of cosmological Background Anisotropies ( SAMBA )
SAMBA will use bolometers to survey the sky in the 0.3-6mm wavelength range. The project has been selected by ESA for a merging with the COBRAS proposal, which gives the COBRAS/SAMBA mission.
Satellites with High Energy Astrophysics Instrumentation ( HEASARC. GSFC. NASA )
Comprehensive list of satellites with high energy astrophysics instrumentation. Includes images from these missions
SEDS - Internet Space Archive ( LPL/Arizona )
A large internet resource of Space related images, information and software.
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory ( SOHO )
SOHO will be launched on 1995 October 31. The SOHO spacecraft is being built in Europe by an industry team led by Matra, and instruments are being provided by European and American scientists. Large radio dishes around the world which form NASA's DSN will be used to track the spacecraft beyond the Earth's orbit. Mission control will be based at GSFC in Maryland.
Solar Data Analysis Center ( SDAC )
The SDAC at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center serves current solar ground- and spaced-based imagery, text, figures, maps, and tables of NASA eclipse bulletins, solar flare data from the Compton GRO BATSE experiment and the Yohkoh spacecraft, and science operations planning information for the SOHO Science Working Team.... and more to come.
Solar Extreme-ultraviolet Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph ( SERTS )
The Solar Extreme-ultraviolet Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) instrument obtains spatially resolved spectra and spectroheliograms over a wide range of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths characteristic of temperatures between 5x10^4-3x10^7K, providing information about the Sun's corona and upper transition region. Wavelength coverage is 170-450A with spectral resolution near 10000, spatial resolution as good as 5arcsec, and relative photometric accuracy within +/- 20% over most of its range. This page contains links to information about the instrument, a solar EUV line list between 170 and 450 A from the SERTS-89 flight, and a list of SERTS-related publications. Soon to be added is information about upcoming launches. Also included are links to other WWW servers relevant to solar astronomers.
Solar UV Atlas from HRTS ( HRTS data )
Through the generosity of Dr. Pål Brekke of the University of Oslo, the High Resolution Spectrograph and Telescope (HRTS) ultraviolet solar atlas is now available on the Web. Click here for more information.
Solar-Terrestrial Physics Home Page ( STP )
Solar-Terrestrial Physics Division of the National Geophysical Data Center home page. Includes several various STP disciplines within the Center: geomagentism, Iononosphere, Solar and Upper Atmosphere, and two satellte programs: GOES and DMSP.
Space Astrophysics Laboratory ( SAL )
The Space Astrophysics Laboratory is part of the Institute for Space And Terrestrial Science, an Ontario Centre of Excellence located in North York, Ontario. Space Astrophysics is a sub-discipline of astronomical research of the sun, planets, stars and galaxies performed from above the surface of the Earth using orbiting or space-borne instruments, producing data that can be correlated with information from Earth-based observatories.
Space Environment Laboratory
The Space Environment Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides near real-time monitoring and forecasting of the environment between the sun and the earth. Our WWW server features Today's Solar Weather with current solar images, xray and proton plots from GOES satellites, and the latest forecast of solar-terrestrial conditions.
Space Index
Space Infrared Telescope Facility - 1 ( SIRTF. JPL. NASA )
The Space InfraRed Telescope Facility (SIRTF), currently under design by NASA, is planned to be a cryogenically cooled observatory to conduct infrared astronomy from space following its launch early next decade. SIRTF will consist of a 0.85-meter diameter telescope and three scientific instruments capable of performing imaging and spectroscopy in the 3-180 micron wavelength regime. Incorporating the latest in large-format infrared detector array technology, SIRTF will offer orders-of-magnitude improvements in sensitivity over previous IR missions. SIRTF is presently baselined for launch in late 2001, and is expected to have a 2.5-year lifetime
Space Infrared Telescope Facility - 2 ( SIRTF )
1-meter class cryogenically-cooled, 2+ year lifetime observatory for infrared astronomy from space. Builds on scientific and technical foundation of JPL's successful Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) mission. Provides thousand to million fold increase in capability over other infrared facilities through use of U.S. developed IR detector arrays in imaging and spectroscopic instrumentation. Launched on Delta rocket into solar orbit.
Space Mechanics Group Home Page ( Space Mechanics Group - Pisa )
Space Mechanics Group, Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, ITALY. This home page gives access to: People (personal home pages) Resarch projects (subject home pages) Publications lists Data bases: asteroid proper elements (ftp server) Announcements of meetings We belong to European Asteroid Research Node Related information - pointers to other groups A preprint facility is in preparation A practical information facility (how to reach us, etc.) is in preparation
Space Movie Archive
Enjoy this on-line biggest collection of space animations (more than 500 anims, 860 Mb) which has been rated number one for its content among all the best Space and Astronomy WWW servers in the world, equally placed with the Comet Shoemaker-Levy NASA JPL Home Page. Here's the summary : Solar eclipses | Meteorology | Science-Fiction |Star Trek | Shoemaker-Levy | Solar system bodies |Satellites, rockets and space probes | Space |STS-71 Mir-Atlantis encounter | Astro 2 Endeavor mission |Apollo missions | DCX-Y project | Future missions |Kennedy speeches at Rice University | Lunar probes
Space Sciences Laboratory ( Berkeley )
HEAD The High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society. SPRG The Space Physics Research Group. SERENDIP The Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations. HOU The Hands-On Universe Program. COBE The Cosmic Background Explorer. EAG The Experimental Astrophysics Group. ISI The Infrared Spatial Interferometer Group. CEA The Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Astrophysics. ORFEUS The Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometers and The Berkeley Spectrometer.
Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility ( ST-ECF )
The ST-ECF was established in 1984 jointly by the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory and is located at the ESO headquarters at Garching near Munich. The ST-ECF supports the European astromical community in exploiting the research opportunities provided by the earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. The ST-ECF provides detailed technical information about the HST and its science instruments, supports European astronomers in the preparation of HST observing proposals, coordinates the development of computer software tuned to the specific data analysis needs of HST users, operates and maintains an archive of all the scientific data collected by HST, and acts as a European centre for associated meetings and workshops. In all of these duties the ST-ECF staff maintains close contacts with the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, which is charged with the scientific operation of the HST observatory.
Space Telescope Electronic Information System (STScI)
Space Telescope Electronic Information System ( STEIS )
Space Telescope Science Institute ( STScI )
STScI is responsible for the scientific operations of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). STScI is operated by Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under contract to NASA.
Spectrum-X-Gamma Coordination facility ( SXG. University of Harvard )
Spectrum-X-Gamma (SXG) is an international high-energy astrophysics observatory which is being built under the leadership of the Russian Space Research Institute (IKI). The US SXG CF supports the US astronomical community in obtaining information about SXG, proposing for and making SXG observations, and performing archival research using the SXG archive
ST-ECF STINFO
HST Status Reports; European HST News
ST-ECF WWW pages
WAIS index to all files in WISE, the World Wide Web (WWW) based information system at the Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF) which supports European astronomers in using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Stardust
A space mission that will fly close to a comet and, for the first time ever, bring cometary material back to Earth
StarTrax: an Astrophysics Information System ( WWW AIS )
StarTrax 2.0 is a forms interface to the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) database management system at NASA's GSFC, which allows browsing of various astronomical catalogs and archival datafiles, providing a vast selection of data from X-ray and Gamma-ray astronomy missions including ROSAT, ASCA, Compton GRO, Einstein and EXOSAT. The Browse facility incorporates a name resolver to convert object names to coordinates; it will also provide multiple downloading of data products. Best results can be obtained by following the configuration instructions.
STScI documents
WAIS index to User Manuals produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute for use by Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) proposers and observers. PostScript and ASCII versions in /documents/* directories on STEIS
STScI Searchtools
Includes: STEIS Gopher Menus, STScI Phonebook, Archive Exposure Catalog, Current Year's Weekly Timeline, HST Status Reports, Long Range Plan (disabled), Weekly Summaries, STScI Documents, ... WWW clients which don't support HTML forms and direct WAIS access can use a simpler interface .
STSDAS help system index
WAIS index of all help files for STSDAS, the Space Telescope Science Data Analysis System, developed at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD, for the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
STSDAS help system
The World Wide Web version of the help information for STSDAS, the Space Telescope Science Data Anlaysis System, developed at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD.
STSDAS source code
WAIS index of all spp (Subset Preprocessor) source code of STSDAS (Space Telescope Science Data Analysis System), developed at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD, for the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Submillimeter astronomy from space - 1 ( ODIN at NRC, Canada )
Odin is a combined astronomy/aeronomy mission first conceived and developed by Sweden. Canada, France, and Finland are international partners in the mission. Canada has a 20% share in both aspects of the mission. Launch is anticipated in 1997. The duration of the mission is expected to be about 2 years
Submillimeter astronomy from space - 2 ( ODIN at University of Calgary )
Odin is a combined astronomy/aeronomy mission first conceived and developed by Sweden. Canada, France, and Finland are international partners in the mission. Canada has a 20% share in both aspects of the mission. Launch is anticipated in 1997. The duration of the mission is expected to be about 2 years
The High-Energy Astrophysics Learning Center
The High-Energy Astrophysics Learning Center is a middle school to college level resource on X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy. We provide information on celestial objects that generate high-energy radiation, X-ray and gamma-ray detector technology, and analysis of high-energy astrophysics data. We also provide multidisciplinary resources for teachers, including lesson plans, study guides, Adopt an Astronomer, and Ask a High-Energy Astronomer.
The Kepler Mission ( Searching for Earth-Sized Planets )
The goal of this NASA satellite mission will be to discover and characterize earth-sized planets in the habitable zone of solar-like stars.
UCLA Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics Space Science Center
Magnetospheric physics, Solar Wind Coupling and Geomagnetic Activity, Space Simulations and Space Physics
Uhuru Satellite ( GSFC. NASA )
Uhuru was the first earth-orbiting mission dedicated entirely to celestial X-ray astronomy. It was launched on 12 December 1970 into an orbit of about 560 km apogee, 520 km perigee, 3 degrees inclination, with a period of 96 minutes. The mission ended in March 1973.
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope ( UIT. GSFC. NASA )
The UIT is a 38-cm Ritchey-Chretien telescope equipped for ultraviolet filter and grating imagery over a 40 arcminute field of view. It contains two detector systems: one in the far UV and one in the near UV. The UIT flew onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as part of the Astro 1 payload. The UIT's second flight will take place in 1995 onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor as part of the Astro 2 payload.
Ulysses Mission ( JPL )
The Ulysses Mission is the first spacecraft to explore interplanetary space at high solar latitudes. Ulysses is a joint endeavor of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the USA. Instruments include: Magnetometer (VHM/FGM), Solar Wind Plasma Experiment (SWOOPS), Solar Wind Ion Composition Instrument (SWICS), Unified Radio and Plasma Wave Instrument (URAP), Energetic Particle Instrument (EPAC), Low-Energy Ion and Electron Experiment (HISCALE), Cosmic Ray and Solar Particle Instrument (COSPIN), Solar X-ray and Cosmic Gamma-Ray Burst Instrument (GRB)
UN Office for Outer Space Affairs
Experimental home page of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs focusing on United Nations activities in outer space matters, particularly on planetary exploration and astronomy (=basic space science).
Universities Space Research Association ( USRA )
The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a private, nonprofit corporation organized in 1969 by the National Academy of Sciences at the request of NASA. Upon incorporation, the Association was vested in a consortium of universities. That consortium now consists of seventy-eight member universities.The Association is chartered to provide a means through which universities and other research organizations may cooperate with one another, with the government of the United States and with other organizations toward the development of knowledge associated with space science and technology. The Association is further chartered to acquire, plan, construct and operate laboratories and other facilities for research, development and education associated with space science and technology.
University of New Hampshire - Department of Physics
The Department of Physics at the University of New Hampshire has an extensive range of research including: space physics/astrophysics, nuclear physics, nonlinear dynamics and condensed matter.
USC Space Sciences Center
The Space Sciences Center, directed by Professor Darrell L. Judge, is engaged in both laboratory and space based investigations. Current deep space, sounding rocket, and space shuttle flight experiments investigate the characteristics of planetary atmospheres, the interplanetary medium, and the sun through remote sensing optical techniques. Recently in situ neutral particle detection techniques have been developed to extend the capability of our remote sensing heliospheric space experiment. The Space Sciences Center also has a vigorous program in the physics of binary star systems and in the analysis of luminosity variations in B and O type stars
Viking Mission to Mars - Online Resources ( PDS Imaging Node. JPL. NASA )
NASA's Viking Mission to Mars was composed of two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander. The primary mission objectives were to obtain high resolution images of the Martian surface, characterize the structure and composition of the atmosphere and surface, and search for evidence of life. Viking 1 was launched on August 20, 1975 and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. Viking 2 was launched September 9, 1975 and entered Mars orbit on August 7, 1976. The service includes description of the missions and images of the planet
WebStars ( Astrophysics on the Web )
WebStars, at NASA's High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center, is about astronomy & astrophysics; the Space Science Web Group; software & icons downloading; WWW technical pages & style guides; on-line articles about astronomy on the Web; HEASARC/StarTrax Browse and other online services; and virtual reality. If you have a document or resource you wish to be included, send me the text (preferably HTML) or a URL. WebStars is referenced by many other sites on the Web. It has been expanded and reorganised extensively since its first announcement in February, so visit again! The What's New page lists file change dates, to help you discover updates. Also, there are New Additions areas.
Wide Field Infrared Explorer ( WIRE )
The Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) is a mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that will survey from earth orbit starburst galaxies, galaxies where star formation is taking place at a high rate. It is part of the space agency's Small Explorer Program (launch: 1998).
World Data Center A for Rockets and Satellites ( WDC-A )
X-Ray Astronomy Satellite ( SAX. ESTEC. ESA )
SAX is devoted to systematic, integrated and comprehensive studies of galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources in the energy band 0.1 - 200 keV; the observational goal to be addressed is to continue and expand upon previous spectral and timing observations of celestial sources in those areas for which the existing information is missing or inadequate and will remain uncovered in the foreseable future. Sax will be launched by an Atlas G-Centaur directly into a 600 km orbit at 3 degrees inclination at the end of 1995
X-Ray Timing Explorer ( XTE. GSFC.NASA )
The X-ray Timing Explorer, a Goddard mission scheduled for launch in August 1995, is designed to facilitate the study of time variability in the emission of X-ray sources with moderate spectral resolution. Time scales from microseconds to months are covered in an instantaneous spectral range from 2 to 250 keV. It is designed for a required life time of two years, a goal of five years.
XMM Survey Science Centre ( XMM SSC )
The XMM Survey Science Centre (SSC) has responsibilities within the XMM project in three main areas:
Yohkoh Satellite. ISAS, Japan ( description at UCL, UK )
Yohkoh (" Sunbeam" in Japanese) is a satellite of the Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) dedicated to high-energy observations of the Sun, specifically of flares and other coronal disturbances
Updated on 96/9/16 8:38 GMT by Sergio Paoli spaoli@fcaglp.fcaglp.unlp.edu.ar