Headed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), in association with European and Korean institutes, Akari was launched on February 21, 2006, from the Uchinoura Space Center (Japan) by a M-V rocket into a Earth-polar Sun-synchronous orbit. That is, its low-Earth orbit passes over the North and South Poles (Earth polar), and it also passes over any given point on the Earth’s surface at the same time that the Sun is directly overhead (Sun synchronous). Its orbit is about 700 kilometers (420 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

Akari has a 68.5 centimeter aperture telescope cooled down to 6 Kelvin. The spacecraft is designed to survey the entire sky in the near-, mid-, and far-infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum; that is, radiation with a wavelength that is longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves. It will observe in the wavelength range from 1.7 (near-infrared) to 180 (far-infrared) micrometers (where one micrometer (micron) equals one millionth of a meter).

This range of observation is possible due to its two instruments: the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) for far-infrared viewing and the Infrared Camera (IRC) for near- and mid-infrared observations.

The name “Akari” means light in Japanese. The Akari spacecraft was previously known as ASTRO-F and IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Surveyor).

Astronomers are especially interested in learning more from Akari about the interaction between the expanding gases from a supernova explosion and the surrounding interstellar material. They do not know much about this interaction, and its possible role in the birth of new stars.

So far, Akari has provided the most comprehensive view of galaxy formation. It has detected over 280 such galaxies. As of November 2006, about 80% of the entire sky has been imaged in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the 1980s, the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, conducted the first all-sky survey at infrared wavelengths. The Akari mission will have an even greater impact on astronomy due to its wider coverage of wavelengths, higher sensitivities, and better spatial resolution.

Mission members are hoping the Akari will be able to function into September 2007. Its life is determined by the remaining amount of liquid helium, which is used to cool its sensitive near-infrared camera.

The Web site of Akari, provided by JAXA, is found at: http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/index_e.html.

{moscomment}

---

Get stories like this delivered daily - FREE - subscribe now
When you subscribe get a 12 months license for LiveProject
Valued at $99 USD


Download the FREE iTWire desktop alert widget