More Things in the Heavens: Infrared Exploration with the Spitzer Space Telescope
Description:
Tune in July 7 at 8 pm ET to explore the legacy of the Spitzer Space Telescope and how it sets the stage for the future. The Spitzer Space Telescope, NASA’s Great Observatory for infrared exploration of the heavens, was retired in January 2020 after a highly successful 16-year career as the premier facility for infrared astronomy from space. Spitzer has studied objects ranging from Near Earth Asteroids to the most distant known galaxies and, more recently, has made major contributions to our understanding of exoplanets – planets orbiting stars other than the Sun. Michael Werner, the Spitzer Project Scientist for over 30 years, will discuss Spitzer’s technical innovations and the scientific advances they enabled. He will share examples of the remarkable images and informative spectra returned by Spitzer and will discuss how Spitzer is setting the stage for future NASA observatories, including the James Webb Space Telescope. Throughout, he will emphasize that projects like Spitzer serve as exemplars of the very best that humanity is capable of. The Exploring Space Lecture Series is made possible by the generous support of Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Alliance.
Video Duration:
55 min 44 sec
YouTube Keywords:
aviation air space national museum smithsonian airplane NASA Rocket Jet Discovery SR-71 Blackbird "Space Shuttle" History Science STEM astronaut