Infrared Astronomical Satellite /IRAS/ Scientific Data Analysis SystemThe Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), to be launched in 1982, is discussed. It will systematically survey the entire sky over a large percentage of the infrared spectrum, in the wavelength region of 8 to 120 microns, at sensitivities a hundred times greater than previously achieved from high-altitude observatories, aircraft, balloons or sounding rockets. The Scientific Data Analysis System (SDAS), an off-line data processing facility, is examined. Its primary function is to produce a catalog of inertially fixed infrared-emitting point sources (mainly stars and galaxies) observed during the IRAS survey. Details for source detection and confirmation are given. It is estimated that the catalog will contain approximately a million objects having a brightness of 10 amtowatts per square centimeter or greater; 125,000 SDAS detections, if spurious events of signal-to-noise ratios greater than 2.5 are included, will be made every day.
Document ID
19810041572
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Duxbury, J. H. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Soifer, B. T. (California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1980
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: Conference on Applications of Digital Image Processing to Astronomy