Thursday, December 3, 2009, 16:00
WHGA Auditorium
M. Griffin, Cardiff University
Abstract:
The Herschel Space Observatory was launched in May 2009. It is
currently undergoing performance verification and scientific
demonstration, with routine operation planned to start before the end
of 2009. Herschel carries a 3.5-m telescope, the largest astronomical
telescope yet launched, and three scientific instruments, HIFI, PACS,
and SPIRE, which can carry out sensitive photometric and spectroscopic
observations over the 60 - 700 micron range. Its main scientific themes
are the study of galaxy formation and evolution, and of star formation and
the interstellar medium in our own and nearby galaxies. I shall give an
overview of Herschel and its instruments, and of their scientific capabilities,
and shall present some initial results. Finally, I shall outline the rationale
and plans for the next-generation far infrared space observatory, SPICA.