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Platforms > Space-based Platforms > Solar/Space Observation Satellites > IRAS

Preferred term

IRAS  

Definition

  • The Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS)was a joint scientific project sponsored by the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands. IRAS was launched in January of 1983 and ended its mission ten months later. IRAS' mission was to map the entire sky at infrared wavelengths. It was equipped with a special infrared telescope to scan the sky. IRAS was the first satellite to discover a comet. The comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock was named for the probe and two co-discovering astronomers. During its lifespan, IRAS observed 20,000 galaxies, 130,000 stars and 90,000 other space objects and star clusters. IRAS detectors found a disk of dusty material and fine rock around the star Vega which may be an early stage in the formation of a new solar system. IRAS' most famous discovery was that of a new type of galaxy, a starburst galaxy. In starburst galaxies, new stars are forming more rapidly than in other types of galaxies. Additional information available at "http://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov/product/iras/" Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: IRAS Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Solar/Space Observation Satellites Short_Name: IRAS Long_Name: Infrared Astronomy Satellite End_Group Group: Synonymous_Platform_Names Short_Name: IRAS End_Group Group: Platform_Associated_Instruments Short_Name: OPTICAL TELESCOPES Short_Name: LRS - Low Resolution Spectrometer Short_Name: CPC - Chopped Photometric Channel End_Group Group: Orbit Orbit_Inclination: 99 degrees Perigee: 884 km Apogee: 903 km End_Group Creation_Date: 2008-01-14 Online_Resource: http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/I/IRAS.html Sample_Image: http://www.daviddarling.info/images/IRAS.jpg Group: Platform_Logistics Launch_Date: 1983-01-23 Launch_Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA Primary_Sponsor: NASA End_Group End_Group (en)

Broader concept

URI

https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/c31354ca-9db7-4ea5-b1ed-9b2dbfc06118

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