Where are gamma ray telescopes located?
Fermi, which was called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) until it reached its operational orbit, launched on June 11, 2008, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a Delta II Heavy rocket. It was placed into a circular orbit around Earth with an altitude of about 350 miles (560 kilometers).
What type of telescopes are in space?
Visible light
| Name | Space Agency | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hubble Space Telescope | NASA & ESA | Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km) |
| MOST | CSA | Earth orbit (819–832 km) |
| Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer | NASA | Earth orbit (585–604 km) |
| COROT | CNES & ESA | Earth orbit (872–884 km) |
How are gamma rays used to study space?
Gamma-rays are the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, with over 10,000 times more energy than visible light photons. By exploring the universe at these high energies, scientists can search for new physics, testing theories and performing experiments which are not possible in earth-bound laboratories.
What are some examples of gamma ray telescopes?
The sky at energies above 100 MeV observed by the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) satellite (1991–2000). The Moon as seen by the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET), in gamma rays of greater than 20 MeV.
Do stars emit gamma rays?
SOURCES OF GAMMA RAYS Gamma rays have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe, such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around black holes.
Can gamma rays be detected on Earth?
Earth’s atmosphere blocks most gamma rays, so most gamma-ray telescopes are carried on satellites and balloons. However, some ground-based telescopes can observe the Cherenkov radiation produced when a gamma ray strikes Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Is Hubble still working and in space?
NASA anticipates that Hubble will last for many more years and will continue making groundbreaking observations, working in tandem with other space observatories including the James Webb Space Telescope to further our knowledge of the cosmos. Launched in 1990, Hubble has been observing the universe for over 31 years.
Is Hubble the only telescope in space?
While Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is certainly the most famous observatory in space, it is by no means the only one. Another member of NASA’s Great Observatories program is the Spitzer Space Telescope, which was launched in August 2003. …
Can gamma rays be detected in space?
Unlike optical light and x-rays, gamma rays cannot be captured and reflected by mirrors. Gamma-ray wavelengths are so short that they can pass through the space within the atoms of a detector. As gamma rays pass through, they collide with electrons in the crystal.
What material can block gamma rays?
Gamma rays have so much penetrating power that several inches of a dense material like lead, or even a few feet of concrete may be required to stop them.
How does a gamma-ray telescope work?
Since gamma rays have so much energy, they pass right through the mirror of a standard optical telescope. Instead, gamma rays are detected by the optical flashes they produce when interacting with the material in a specially designed instrument such as a scintillation detector.
What are facts about gamma rays?
Facts about gamma radiation: 1. Production of Gamma Radiation. Gamma rays are produced from the excited nucleus of a radioactive element. An excited radioactive element decays to form its daughter element by a process called isometric transition.
What uses do gamma rays have?
Though gamma rays are bio-hazardous in nature, they can be controlled and used for various important purposes: It is used in the treatment of cancer without surgery. It is used to sterilize surgical instruments. It is also used in the food industry to kill harmful bacteria.
What does the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope do?
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST), formerly called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), is a space observatory being used to perform gamma-ray astronomy observations from low Earth orbit.
