GSFC IR Heterodyne Spectrometer in NASA IRTF Code Room
The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) is an astronomical observatory located near the 4205m (13,800ft) summit of Mauna Kea, an extinct volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. It features a 3-meter (9.8 ft) telescope optimized for observations in infrared. The IRTF is operated by the University of Hawaii under a cooperative agreement with NASA.A minimum of 50% of IRTF observing time is devoted to planetary science.
I've had the opportunity to use the IRTF on numerous occasions with my colleagues from Goddard Space Flight Center and our Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer. Our spectroscopic research projects include measuring winds on Venus, mapping ozone on Mars, and studying hydrocarbons in the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn and Titan. We observed the atmospheric aftermath of Comet Shoemaker-Levy's impact with Jupiter, and have provided ground based observations of the planets in support of NASA missions.
Technical Details
- Title: GSFC IR Heterodyne Spectrometer in NASA IRTF Code Room
- Subject: GSFC Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer
- Location: Mauna Kea, HAWAII
- Camera: Nikon FE with 16mm Nikkor lens
- Exposure: Auto
- Film: Ektachrome 400
- File Name: MK84-336w.jpg
- Original Image Size: 2730 x 3963 pixels (10.8 megapixels); 9.1" x 13.2" @ 300 dpi
- Rights: Copyright 2007 by Fred Espenak. All Rights Reserved. See: Image Licensing.