Kuiper Airborne Observatory
- Kuiper Airborne Observatory
-
a Lockheed C-141 jet transport aircraft specially instrumented for astronomical observations at high altitudes. Named for the American astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper (
Kuiper, Gerard Peter), it was operated (1971–95) by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The observatory, equipped with a 0.9-metre (36-inch) Cassegrain (
Cassegrain reflector) reflecting telescope, was typically flown at an altitude of 12,500 metres (41,000 feet) to measure
infrared radiation emitted by planets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects. Much of the infrared radiation in certain spectral regions is absorbed by water vapour and carbon dioxide in Earth's lower atmosphere and so cannot be detected by ground-based telescopes. The major discoveries of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory include the rings of the planet
Uranus, stars in the process of formation, and molecules in interstellar space and in planetary atmospheres. A more sophisticated airborne observatory, a modified Boeing 747 named the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (
SOFIA) and developed by the United States and Germany, is scheduled to begin observations in 2010.
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Kuiper Airborne Observatory — der NASA Das Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) ist ein nach Gerard Peter Kuiper benanntes Cassegrain Teleskop mit 91,5 Zentimeter Spiegeldurchmesser, welches in einem umgebauten Militärtransporter vom Typ Lockheed C 141 untergebracht ist. Es… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Kuiper Airborne Observatory — El KAO en vuelo. Obsérvese la ventana negra situada entre el morro y el ala, abertura por la que se realizaban las observaciones. The Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) era una instalación dirigida por la NASA para realizar investigaciones en… … Wikipedia Español
Kuiper Airborne Observatory — Le KAO (Kuiper Airborne Observatory) en vol. Le Gerard P. Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) était un projet de la NASA pour développer la recherche en astronomie infrarouge. La plateforme d observation fut une version fortement modifiée de l… … Wikipédia en Français
Kuiper Airborne Observatory — The Gerard P. Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) was a national facility operated by NASA to support research in infrared astronomy. The observation platform was a highly modified C 141A jet transport aircraft with a range of 6,000 nautical miles … Wikipedia
Kuiper — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Bernhard Kuiper (1907 1988), deutscher Architekt und SS Obersturmführer Franciscus Bernardus Jacobus Kuiper (1907–2003), niederländischer Indologe Gerard Peter Kuiper (1905–1973), US amerikanischer… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Kuiper — [ kœjpər], Gerard Peter, amerikanischer Astronom niederländischer Herkunft, * Harenkarspel (Nordholland) 7. 12. 1905, ✝ Mexiko 23. 12. 1973; ab 1933 in den USA (1937 naturalisiert); Direktor des Yerkes Observatoriums bei Chicago, Gründer (1960) … Universal-Lexikon
Observatory — This article is about scientific observatories. For the suburb of Cape Town, see Observatory, Cape Town. For other uses, see The Observatory (disambiguation). The Sphinx Observatory at the Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps; high altitude… … Wikipedia
Kuiper, Gerard Peter — ▪ American astronomer original name Gerrit Pieter Kuiper born Dec. 7, 1905, Harenkarspel, Neth. died Dec. 23, 1973, Mexico City, Mexico Dutch American astronomer known especially for his discoveries and theories concerning the solar… … Universalium
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy — Infobox Observatory name = SOFIA caption = The 747SP, which now serves as NASA s SOFIA, on a test flight in 1997. Still mostly in United Airlines livery, a black square was painted on the aft fuselage to indicate the area that would house the… … Wikipedia
Gerard Kuiper — Infobox Scientist name = PAGENAME box width = image size =150px caption = PAGENAME c. 1963. birth date = December 7 1905 birth place = Harenkarspel death date = December 23 1973 death place = Mexico City residence = |citizenship = American… … Wikipedia
