Orbiting Astronomical Observatory
- Orbiting Astronomical Observatory
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▪ satellites
any of a series of four unmanned U.S. scientific satellites developed to observe cosmic objects from above the Earth's atmosphere. OAO-1 was launched on April 8, 1966, but its power supply failed shortly after liftoff. OAO-2, launched Dec. 7, 1968, carried two large telescopes and a complement of spectrometers and other auxiliary devices. It weighed more than 4,200 pounds (1,900 kg), the heaviest satellite orbited up to that time. OAO-2 was able to photograph young stars that emit mostly ultraviolet light. Astronomers had detected very few such stars with ground-based telescopes because ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. OAO-2 remained in operation until January 1973. OAO-B failed to reach orbit after its launch on Nov. 30, 1970. Copernicus (OAO-3) was equipped with more powerful instruments, including a reflecting telescope with a 32-inch (81-cm) mirror. Launched Aug. 21, 1972, this satellite was primarily used to study ultraviolet emissions from interstellar gas and stars in the far reaches of the Milky Way. Copernicus also carried four X-ray detectors that discovered several pulsars. Copernicus continued observing until February 1981.
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Universalium.
2010.
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Orbiting Astronomical Observatory — Le satellite Copernicus (OAO 3) Le programme Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) constitue une famille de quatre satellites artificiels lancés par la NASA entre 1966 et 1972. Ils effectuèrent les premières observations en haute résolution de… … Wikipédia en Français
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 — OAO 3 Das Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 (OAO 3), auch Copernicus genannt, war ein amerikanisch britisches Weltraumteleskop für den Ultraviolett und Röntgenbereich. OAO 3 wurde von der NASA am 21. August 1972 mit einer Atlas Centaur Rakete… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory — Concepción artística de OAO 2. La serie Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) consistió en cuatro observatorios lanzados por la NASA entre 1966 y 1972, y realizaron las primeras observaciones de alta calidad en luz ultravioleta. Aunque dos de… … Wikipedia Español
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. — See OAO. * * * … Universalium
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. — See OAO … Useful english dictionary
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observatory — n 1. astronomical observatory, Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, OAO. 2. tower, watchtower, observation post, lookout Naut. crow s nest … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
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