| Status | Legacy |
| Launch | 1995 |
| Space organisation | ESA |
| Type | Infrared (2.5 – 240 μm) |
| Orbit | Elliptical geocentric (1,000 – 70,000 km) |
| SRON contribution to | Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) |
The wavelength range of the SWS coincided with the infrared wavelengths at which cool objects with temperatures of 80-1500K emit most of their energy. The spectral resolution of the SWS made it possible, for example, to study the atmosphere of the gas planets in our solar system and the composition of the soil of Mars and asteroids. In addition, the SWS provided spectra of objects outside our Milky Way. Among other things, astronomers have discovered that galaxies that shine brightly in the infrared have recently undergone a period of intense star formation. Because the SWS was able to detect hydrogen molecules in their lowest energy state, astronomers learned a great deal about how space clouds cool down to eventually form stars.
The SWS was one of four instruments onboard ISO. The instrument consisted of two almost independent grating spectrometers, one for short infrared wavelengths of 2.4 – 12 µm and one for long infrared wavelengths of 11.4 – 45.5 µm, with a spectral resolution between 1000 and 2000. The SWS had 17 wavelength bands, 3 apertures and 6 detector arrays. The detectors were housed in a cryostat cooled to four degrees above absolute zero (4 Kelvin) with superfluid helium.
Our experts
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Read morePeter Roelfsema
Dr. Senior Scientist/Senior Project manager
