NSSDCA ID: 1973-027A-10
Mission Name: SkylabThe objectives of this experiment were to record monochromatic images of the entire sun in the emission lines of a spectral range from 150 to 625 A, to obtain information about composition, temperature, energy conversion and transfer, and plasma processes within the chromosphere and lower corona, and to correlate these data with results from simultaneous observations in the other wavelength regions. This experiment, located in the ATM, consisted of an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) slitless spectroheliograph. Imaging of the sun and generation of the spectrum were achieved by a single concave mirror of 2-m focal length, ruled in gold with 3600 lines per mm. The instrument had a field of view of 1.75 solar diameters with a spatial resolution of as fine as 2 arc-s. It covered the wavelength range from 171 to 730 A with a spectral resolution as fine as 0.027 A. A single exposure simultaneously recorded full-disk images in a multitude of XUV emission lines, showing solar features whose temperatures range from 2.0E+4 K to over 2.0E+7 K in their relationship to their overall surroundings. The unused part of the solar spectrum was reflected out into space in order to avoid unnecessary heating of the instrument. A thin aluminum filter in front of the film kept stray light out. Four film cameras were used, each loaded with 200 film strips; a crew member exchanged cameras by extravehicular activity (EVA). This instrument operated almost perfectly and recorded 1032 XUV spectroheliograms on strips of Schumann-type XUV sensitive film (35 mm x 258 mm each). For more details, see R. Tousey et al., App. Opt., v. 16, p. 870, 1977.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. James D. Purcell | Other Investigator | US Naval Research Laboratory | |
Dr. Richard Tousey | Principal Investigator | US Naval Research Laboratory |