Sky Polarization Observatory
Alternative namesSPOrt Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationNational Institute for Astrophysics Edit this on Wikidata
Wavelength22, 32, 90 GHz (1.36, 0.94, 0.33 cm)
Decommissioned2005 Edit this on Wikidata
Telescope stylecosmic microwave background experiment Edit this on Wikidata
Angular resolution7 degree Edit this on Wikidata
Websitesport.iasfbo.inaf.it Edit this at Wikidata
[edit on Wikidata]

The Sky Polarization Observatory (SPOrt) was an Italian instrument planned for launch to the International Space Station in for a planned 2-year mission beginning in 2007. There it would observe 80% of the sky for the Cosmic microwave background radiation in the frequency range from 20 to 100 GHz. Apart from detecting large scale CMB polarization it will also provide maps of Galactic synchrotron emission at lowest frequencies.

The project was headed by Stefano Cortiglioni of the IASF-CNR in Bologna and completely funded by the Italian Space Agency. Due to the project's reliance on the Space Shuttle, and the setback of the Columbia disaster, timely launch was unlikely. Cortiglioni therefore canceled the project in 2005 to allow his team to seek more promising research avenues.[1]

Instrumentation

SPOrt[2] carries four feed horns sensitive at 22, 32 and 90 GHz which feed a bolometer with a pixel sensitivity of 1.7 μK.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2008-10-27.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ S. Cortiglioni; B. Negri (2004), "The Sky Polarization Observatory (SPOrt)", New Astronomy, 9 (4): 297–327, arXiv:astro-ph/0401193, Bibcode:2004NewA....9..297C, doi:10.1016/j.newast.2003.11.004, S2CID 119349964

External links


Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB)
Categories