Cosmic background explorer (COBE) mission

John C. Mather

doi:10.1117/12.157821

1 October 1993 Cosmic background explorer (COBE) mission

John C. Mather

Proceedings Volume 2019, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.157821
Event: SPIE's 1993 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1993, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite carries three instruments to measure the diffuse infrared and microwave background radiation from the early universe, along with more recent diffuse sources. It was developed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and launched by a Delta rocket on November 18, 1989. It has produced the first measurements of structure in the Big Bang and has shown that the primeval heat radiation has a blackbody spectrum to extraordinary accuracy. The three instruments include a Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS) to cover the range from 100 micrometers to 1 cm wavelength with a 7 degree(s) resolution, a Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) to map the sky from 1 to 300 micrometers with a 0.7 degree(s) resolution in 10 broad bands, and a Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) to map the sky at 31.5, 53, and 90 GHz with a 7 degree(s) resolution. The designs of the instruments and spacecraft are described, and the primary results ar summarized.

Citation Download Citation

John C. Mather "Cosmic background explorer (COBE) mission", Proc. SPIE 2019, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing, (1 October 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.157821

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available