Publication Date:
2014-09-16
Description:
The spectrographs aboard Space Telescope and Columbus which will provide important new information about the interstellar medium in the immediate vicinity of the sun are described. The space telescope's highest resolution is adequate to define the multicomponent nature of interstellar absorption lines and to measure thermal line widths exceeding 3 km/s. The Columbus spacecraft will contain spectrographs capable of resolutions of 3 x 10 to the 4th power between 912 and 1200 A and 500 between 100 and 900 A. In the short wavelength region, lines of He I and II, are observable. If the 3 x 10 to the 4th power resolution spectrograph provides extended wavelength coverage to 770 A, lines of Ne VIII which are expected from 8 x 10 to the 5th power K gas are accessible. The ST HRS and Columbus spectrographs enable the study of a wide range of problems relating to cold, warm, and hot gas in the local ISM.
Keywords:
ASTROPHYSICS
Type:
NASA. Goddard Space Flight Center Local Interstellar Medium, No. 81; p 333-343
Format:
text
