The Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation Mission

Abstract

The Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation (or the Far-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph) instruments, flown aboard the STSAT-1 satellite mission, have provided the first large-area spectral mapping of the cosmic far ultraviolet (FUV, lambda 900-1750 Ang) background. We observe diffuse radiation from hot (10^4 to 10^6 K) and ionized plasmas, molecular hydrogen, and dust scattered starlight. These data provide for the unprecedented detection and discovery of spectral emission from a variety of interstellar environments, including the general medium, molecular clouds, supernova remnants, and super-bubbles. We describe the mission and its data, present an overview of the diffuse FUV sky's appearance and spectrum, and introduce the scientific findings detailed later in this volume.

References in corpus (7)

• The SPEAR Instrument and On-Orbit Performance
• Far-UV Observations of a Thermal Interface in the Orion-Eridanus Superbubble
• Diffuse Far-ultraviolet Observations of the Taurus Region
• SPEAR Far Ultraviolet Spectral Images of the Cygnus Loop
• Far Ultraviolet Spectral Images of the Vela Supernova Remnant
• Molecular Hydrogen Fluorescence in the Eridanus Superbubble
• Far-ultraviolet Observations of the North Ecliptic Pole with SPEAR

Cited by in corpus (9)

• The SPEAR Instrument and On-Orbit Performance
• Far-UV Observations of a Thermal Interface in the Orion-Eridanus Superbubble
• Diffuse Far-ultraviolet Observations of the Taurus Region
• SPEAR Far Ultraviolet Spectral Images of the Cygnus Loop
• Far Ultraviolet Spectral Images of the Vela Supernova Remnant
• Molecular Hydrogen Fluorescence in the Eridanus Superbubble
• Far-ultraviolet Observations of the North Ecliptic Pole with SPEAR
• SPEAR far UV spectral imaging of highly ionized emission from the North Galactic Pole Region
• Far-Ultraviolet Cooling Features of the Antlia Supernova Remnant