Abstract

Project Celescope of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is designing, as part of NASA’s Orbiting Astronomical Observatories program, instrumentation for mapping the sky in wavelengths between 1000 and 3000 A. The Celescope will consist of three telescopes and a slitless spectroscope. Each telescope will consist of a Schwarzschild camera with ultraviolet-sensitive television camera tube at the focus; three different wavelength bands will be covered by use of television tubes of different spectral sensitivities. The slitless spectroscope will consist of a diffraction grating ruled onto the primary of a similar Schwarzschild camera. The optical structure will be self-compensating, eliminating the need for refocusing in orbit. Calibration lamps will be carried on board the satellite to transfer the laboratory calibration to the sky. This system is scheduled to be contained in the first OAO, to be launched in late 1963 or 1964.

© 1962 Optical Society of America

Optics in the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory

Herbert B. Hallock
Appl. Opt. 1(2) 155-163 (1962)

An Ultraviolet-Sensitive Image Tube

G. Skorinko, D. D. Doughty, and W. A. Feibelman
Appl. Opt. 1(6) 717-720 (1962)

The Extreme Ultraviolet–Past and Future

R. Tousey
Appl. Opt. 1(6) 679-694 (1962)

Optical Instrumentation for TIROS

Marvin H. Harper
Appl. Opt. 1(2) 139-146 (1962)

Spectrally Selective Photodetectors for the Middle and Vacuum Ultraviolet

Lawrence Dunkelman, Walter B. Fowler, and John Hennes
Appl. Opt. 1(6) 695-700 (1962)