Galactic center probed by MSX infrared observations

17 Jun 2002

The Science Team for the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) -- a Ballistic Missile Defense Organization satellite launched in April -- has obtained two unique images of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a small companion galaxy to our own galaxy, the Milky Way and released the highest resolution mid-infrared maps of the central region of our galaxy.

The images of the Small Magellanic Cloud represent at least a five-fold improvement in resolution and sensitivity over previous experiments. These "first light" images were made with the MSX Spatial Infrared Imaging Telescope (SPIRIT III)-- built by the Space Dynamics Laboratory of Utah State University-- and by the MSX Ultraviolet Visible Imagers and Spectrographic Imagers (UVISI)-- built by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). The images cover the same field of 3.5 degrees by 3.5 degrees.

The resolution of the MSX mid-infrared observation of the center of our galaxy is about 15 times better than the previous best infrared observation taken by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). The raster scans which were used to create the Galactic Center image were among the first made with the MSX SPIRIT III.

For details, see this week's News Feature