Surveys with SIRTF

Abstract

NASA will launch the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) at the end of 2001. SIRTF is an 85-cm cryogenically cooled telescope using large format infrared arrays in cameras operating from 3.5 to 160μm and spectrographs from 5 to 40μm and, at very low resolution, from 52 to 99μm. Coincidentally - since no one can be given credit for planning the missions this way - SIRTF generally has strengths where the Infrared Space Observatory had weaknesses and weaknesses where ISO had strengths. The large format, high performance arrays in the SIRTF cameras will allow large area surveys of unprecedented sensitivity. The use of two dimensional arrays in the SIRTF spectrograph allows observation of an entire octave at once, bothimpro ving sensitivity and encouraging line surveys over the entire accessible spectral range. Large scale surveys withSIR TF will be encouraged through the “Legacy” program to be selected late in 2000.