Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1998 · 12 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesAstronomyPhysicsAstrophysicsObservational AstronomyUltraviolet AstronomyGalactic HaloInterstellar Absorption LinesSpace-based Ultraviolet ObservationsUltraviolet InstrumentationUltraviolet SpectroscopyUltraviolet TelescopesAbsorption Line SpectroscopyAbsorption Line SystemsPoint SourcesSpace-based Ultraviolet InstrumentsSpectroscopic DiagnosticsUltraviolet Absorption LinesUltraviolet SpectrographyUltraviolet Telescope Spectrographs
We present an overview of the expected performance and science goals of the cosmic origins spectrograph (COS), a fourth generation instrument to be installed aborad the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during the fourth HST servicing mission scheduled for late 2002. COS is a UV spectrograph optimized for observing faint point sources with moderate spectral resolution. The instrument has two channels: a far- UV channel that is sensitive in the 1150-1775 angstrom wavelength range and a near-UV channel that operates between 1750-3200 angstrom. The COS science team program concentrates on QSO absorption line systems and the IGM, dynamics of the ISM in galaxies and galaxy halos, UV extinction in the Milky Way, horizontal-branch stars in globular clusters, and volatile gases in the atmospheres of solar system bodies.