THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY EXPLORER (WISE): MISSION DESCRIPTION AND INITIAL ON-ORBIT PERFORMANCE

TLDR

All-sky infrared surveys by missions such as IRAS, 2MASS, and various Schmidt telescopes have provided enduring astronomical resources. WISE, launched in December 2009, has been mapping the entire sky since January 2010, completing its first full coverage in July 2010 and will perform a second pass until cryogen depletion in November 2010. WISE achieves 5σ point‑source sensitivities of 0.08, 0.11, 1, and 6 mJy at 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22 μm, with improved sensitivity toward the ecliptic poles, and delivers angular resolutions of 61–120 arcsec and astrometric precision better than 0.15 arcsec.

Abstract

The all sky surveys done by the Palomar Observatory Schmidt, the European Southern Observatory Schmidt, and the United Kingdom Schmidt, the InfraRed Astronomical Satellite, and the Two Micron All Sky Survey have proven to be extremely useful tools for astronomy with value that lasts for decades. The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is mapping the whole sky following its launch on 2009 December 14. WISE began surveying the sky on 2010 January 14 and completed its first full coverage of the sky on July 17. The survey will continue to cover the sky a second time until the cryogen is exhausted (anticipated in 2010 November). WISE is achieving 5σ point source sensitivities better than 0.08, 0.11, 1, and 6 mJy in unconfused regions on the ecliptic in bands centered at wavelengths of 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22 μm. Sensitivity improves toward the ecliptic poles due to denser coverage and lower zodiacal background. The angular resolution is 61, 64, 65, and 120 at 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22 μm, and the astrometric precision for high signal-to-noise sources is better than 015.