The Spitzer Space Telescope

what is it?

• An Infra-Red Space Telescope!
• Launched in august 2003
• 4th  and final member of NASA's observatory family
• THE FUTURE OF SPACE OBSERVATION

Its objectives

• Study space bodies throughout the universe!
• Study the brightest galaxies in the universe!
• Study brown dwarfs and super planets!

Specifications and features

• .85 meter telescope and 4 meters tall
• 865 kilos
• Cooled to 5.5 degrees Kelvin (-268 degrees) with liquid helium   
• 3-180 micron wavelength range
• Uses detector arrays that  sensitive in cold temperatures

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Why Develop the Spitzer telescope?

• Planets and asteroids emit infra-red light
• Infra-red technology may detect incoming meteors!
• The Spitzer Space telescope can find planets that contain life
• Dust clouds will no longer block our view of space
• Modifications to increase its efficiency will reduce its cost!