Andrew Yee[_1_]
July 12th 07, 02:47 AM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
11 July 2007
AKARI presents detailed all-sky map in infrared light
One year after the beginning of its scientific operations, the
high-capability infrared satellite AKARI continues to produce stunning views
of the infrared Universe.
Launched in February 2006, AKARI is making a comprehensive, multi-wavelength
study of the sky in infrared light, helping to gain a deeper understanding
of the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and planetary systems. The
mission is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) project with ESA and
international participation.
In the course of last year, AKARI performed all-sky observations in six
wavelength bands. More than 90 percent of the entire sky has so far been
imaged. The mission provides the first census of the infrared sky since the
atlas made by its only infrared surveyor predecessor, the Anglo-Dutch-US
IRAS satellite more than 20 years ago. AKARI has studied about 3500 selected
targets during pointed observations, with improved spatial resolution.
The latest results presented by JAXA today show the infrared sky with
unprecedented spatial resolution and wavelength coverage and, in particular,
many regions of active star formation.
The first two images presented in this article show the entire sky in
infrared light at nine micrometres. The bright stripe extending from left to
right is the disc of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Several bright regions
corresponding to strong infrared radiation appear along or next to the
Galactic Plane. These regions are sites of newly born stars. At the
brightest region in the very centre of the image, towards the centre of our
Galaxy, old stars crowd together. AKARI observed the infrared radiation
emitted from the heated interstellar dust.
The inscriptions indicate constellations and regions of intense star
formation. The data used to create this image have a spatial resolution of
about nine arcseconds, several times finer than IRAS in 1983. Further
detailed analysis of this data will help to learn more about the physical
conditions of these star formation regions.
The bright spot on the lower-right of the image, indicated as the 'Large
Magellanic Cloud' shows another galaxy close to our Milky Way, also
undergoing active star formation. Even though not visible at the current
resolution of this image, there are many more galaxies in the Universe with
intense star formation processes. It is one of AKARI's prime targets to
observe these galaxies and build up a comprehensive picture of the star
formation history of the Universe.
AKARI's Far Infrared Surveyor (FIS) instrument also observed the Milky Way
and the Orion region. In this image, two views at visual light (left) and
infrared light (right) are juxtaposed, both covering a region of about 30x40
square degrees. AKARI's view is taken at 140 micrometres. For the first time
ever, AKARI provided coverage of the Orion region at infrared wavelengths
longer than 100 micrometres at such fine resolution.
The right side of the image covers the constellation Orion while the left
side shows the Monoceros. The Galactic Plane is located from the top to
bottom in the left side of the image. Cold dust in the Galactic Plane
appears as diffuse radiation over the entire image.
The very bright source just below the belt of Orion shows the famous Orion
Nebula (M42), where many stars are being born. Another major star-forming
region including the Horse Head nebula can be seen on the left side of
Orion's belt. In contrast to its appearance as a dark cloud in visible
light, it is extremely bright in the infrared. The bright extended emission
seen in the middle-left part of the image is the so-called Rosette Nebula,
yet another star-forming region. Finally, the big circular structure centred
at the head of Orion is clearly visible. Apparently many massive stars were
formed at the centre of the circle, causing a corresponding series of
supernova explosions that has swept out the dust and gas in the region
forming a shell-like structure.
The Orion Nebula is located about 1500 light years away from Earth; the
Rosetta nebula 3600 light years.
This false-colour composite was obtained by AKARI's Far Infrared Surveyor
(FIS) instrument at 90 and 140 micrometres. It shows star-forming regions in
the constellation Cygnus, one of the brightest regions in the Milky Way. The
image covers 7.6x10.0 square degrees. This region is in a direction along
the so-called 'Orion arm', one of the spiral arms of our Galaxy. Many
objects at distances of three thousand to ten thousand light years are
projected on this small region. The Galactic plane appears from the top-left
to bottom-right.
The many bright spots in the image reveal regions where new stars are being
born. They heat up the dust and ionize the gas in their vicinity producing
strong infrared radiation. There are only a small number of regions in our
Galaxy that exhibit so many massive star-forming regions over such a
restricted area of the sky.
The large, dark hollows, also clearly visible on the image, developed from
clusters of massive, high-temperature stars that have blown away the
surrounding gas and dust by their strong radiation.
Note for editors
AKARI was launched on 21 February 2006. It began its all-sky survey
observations in May 2006 and completed its first coverage of the sky in
November 2006. The mission is currently in a phase dedicated to pointed
observations, interleaved with supplemental scan observations to complete
the all-sky survey. It is expected that the mission liquid Helium cryogen
will last until at least September 2007.
AKARI is a JAXA mission carried out with the participation of several
partners such as: the Nagoya University, The University of Tokyo and
National Astronomical Observatory Japan; the European Space Agency (ESA);
Imperial College London, the University of Sussex and The Open University
(UK); the University of Groningen/SRON (The Netherlands); the Seoul National
University (Korea). The far-infrared detectors were developed under
collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology (Japan).
ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain provides
expertise and support for the sky-survey data processing through the
pointing reconstruction -- this allows the determination of accurate
astronomical positions for each of the sources detected. ESAC also provides
user support for the European astronomers who have been granted observing
opportunities. ESA's Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, is
providing the mission with ground support through its ground station in
Kiruna, for several passes per day.
For more information
Alberto Salama, ESA -- ISO and AKARI Project Scientist
Email: alberto.salama @ esa.int
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4OXGYX3F_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
11 July 2007
AKARI presents detailed all-sky map in infrared light
One year after the beginning of its scientific operations, the
high-capability infrared satellite AKARI continues to produce stunning views
of the infrared Universe.
Launched in February 2006, AKARI is making a comprehensive, multi-wavelength
study of the sky in infrared light, helping to gain a deeper understanding
of the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and planetary systems. The
mission is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) project with ESA and
international participation.
In the course of last year, AKARI performed all-sky observations in six
wavelength bands. More than 90 percent of the entire sky has so far been
imaged. The mission provides the first census of the infrared sky since the
atlas made by its only infrared surveyor predecessor, the Anglo-Dutch-US
IRAS satellite more than 20 years ago. AKARI has studied about 3500 selected
targets during pointed observations, with improved spatial resolution.
The latest results presented by JAXA today show the infrared sky with
unprecedented spatial resolution and wavelength coverage and, in particular,
many regions of active star formation.
The first two images presented in this article show the entire sky in
infrared light at nine micrometres. The bright stripe extending from left to
right is the disc of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Several bright regions
corresponding to strong infrared radiation appear along or next to the
Galactic Plane. These regions are sites of newly born stars. At the
brightest region in the very centre of the image, towards the centre of our
Galaxy, old stars crowd together. AKARI observed the infrared radiation
emitted from the heated interstellar dust.
The inscriptions indicate constellations and regions of intense star
formation. The data used to create this image have a spatial resolution of
about nine arcseconds, several times finer than IRAS in 1983. Further
detailed analysis of this data will help to learn more about the physical
conditions of these star formation regions.
The bright spot on the lower-right of the image, indicated as the 'Large
Magellanic Cloud' shows another galaxy close to our Milky Way, also
undergoing active star formation. Even though not visible at the current
resolution of this image, there are many more galaxies in the Universe with
intense star formation processes. It is one of AKARI's prime targets to
observe these galaxies and build up a comprehensive picture of the star
formation history of the Universe.
AKARI's Far Infrared Surveyor (FIS) instrument also observed the Milky Way
and the Orion region. In this image, two views at visual light (left) and
infrared light (right) are juxtaposed, both covering a region of about 30x40
square degrees. AKARI's view is taken at 140 micrometres. For the first time
ever, AKARI provided coverage of the Orion region at infrared wavelengths
longer than 100 micrometres at such fine resolution.
The right side of the image covers the constellation Orion while the left
side shows the Monoceros. The Galactic Plane is located from the top to
bottom in the left side of the image. Cold dust in the Galactic Plane
appears as diffuse radiation over the entire image.
The very bright source just below the belt of Orion shows the famous Orion
Nebula (M42), where many stars are being born. Another major star-forming
region including the Horse Head nebula can be seen on the left side of
Orion's belt. In contrast to its appearance as a dark cloud in visible
light, it is extremely bright in the infrared. The bright extended emission
seen in the middle-left part of the image is the so-called Rosette Nebula,
yet another star-forming region. Finally, the big circular structure centred
at the head of Orion is clearly visible. Apparently many massive stars were
formed at the centre of the circle, causing a corresponding series of
supernova explosions that has swept out the dust and gas in the region
forming a shell-like structure.
The Orion Nebula is located about 1500 light years away from Earth; the
Rosetta nebula 3600 light years.
This false-colour composite was obtained by AKARI's Far Infrared Surveyor
(FIS) instrument at 90 and 140 micrometres. It shows star-forming regions in
the constellation Cygnus, one of the brightest regions in the Milky Way. The
image covers 7.6x10.0 square degrees. This region is in a direction along
the so-called 'Orion arm', one of the spiral arms of our Galaxy. Many
objects at distances of three thousand to ten thousand light years are
projected on this small region. The Galactic plane appears from the top-left
to bottom-right.
The many bright spots in the image reveal regions where new stars are being
born. They heat up the dust and ionize the gas in their vicinity producing
strong infrared radiation. There are only a small number of regions in our
Galaxy that exhibit so many massive star-forming regions over such a
restricted area of the sky.
The large, dark hollows, also clearly visible on the image, developed from
clusters of massive, high-temperature stars that have blown away the
surrounding gas and dust by their strong radiation.
Note for editors
AKARI was launched on 21 February 2006. It began its all-sky survey
observations in May 2006 and completed its first coverage of the sky in
November 2006. The mission is currently in a phase dedicated to pointed
observations, interleaved with supplemental scan observations to complete
the all-sky survey. It is expected that the mission liquid Helium cryogen
will last until at least September 2007.
AKARI is a JAXA mission carried out with the participation of several
partners such as: the Nagoya University, The University of Tokyo and
National Astronomical Observatory Japan; the European Space Agency (ESA);
Imperial College London, the University of Sussex and The Open University
(UK); the University of Groningen/SRON (The Netherlands); the Seoul National
University (Korea). The far-infrared detectors were developed under
collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology (Japan).
ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain provides
expertise and support for the sky-survey data processing through the
pointing reconstruction -- this allows the determination of accurate
astronomical positions for each of the sources detected. ESAC also provides
user support for the European astronomers who have been granted observing
opportunities. ESA's Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, is
providing the mission with ground support through its ground station in
Kiruna, for several passes per day.
For more information
Alberto Salama, ESA -- ISO and AKARI Project Scientist
Email: alberto.salama @ esa.int
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4OXGYX3F_index_1.html ]