V. Manno – författare

Infrared Astronomy is a relatively new subject but it has already radically altered our ideas about astronomical sources. Recent progress in this subject is the result of improved detection techniques, particularly the use of detectors at liquid helium temperatures. Unfortunately, the terrestrial atmosphere greatly restricts Infrared astronomers by allowing them to detect radiation only in narrow transmission win­ dows and by presenting a foreground emission which limits the faintness of observable sources. It is only from aircraft or balloon altitudes that we can begin to observe faint sources over the complete range of wavelengths between the visible and the radio regions. Few such observations have yet been made and none from satellites, although the latter vehicle will offer complete freedom from atmospheric effects. New developments and intermediate steps will be required before the ultimate aim of flying in space can be achieved. It is not surprising therefore that the Fifth Eslab/Esrin Symposium should deal with this problem. This book contains the proceedings of the Symposium and faithfully records all discussions. The Symposium covered the present situation and future perspectives of IR techniques. International leaders in the field reviewed the results to date and the possible developments in telescope systems, detectors, cryogenics, filters, and interferometers. Individual con­ tributions were made by European and U. S. scientists in each of these fields.

Infrared Astronomy is a relatively new subject but it has already radically altered our ideas about astronomical sources. Recent progress in this subject is the result of improved detection techniques, particularly the use of detectors at liquid helium temperatures. Unfortunately, the terrestrial atmosphere greatly restricts Infrared astronomers by allowing them to detect radiation only in narrow transmission win­ dows and by presenting a foreground emission which limits the faintness of observable sources. It is only from aircraft or balloon altitudes that we can begin to observe faint sources over the complete range of wavelengths between the visible and the radio regions. Few such observations have yet been made and none from satellites, although the latter vehicle will offer complete freedom from atmospheric effects. New developments and intermediate steps will be required before the ultimate aim of flying in space can be achieved. It is not surprising therefore that the Fifth Eslab/Esrin Symposium should deal with this problem. This book contains the proceedings of the Symposium and faithfully records all discussions. The Symposium covered the present situation and future perspectives of IR techniques. International leaders in the field reviewed the results to date and the possible developments in telescope systems, detectors, cryogenics, filters, and interferometers. Individual con­ tributions were made by European and U. S. scientists in each of these fields.

The European Space Research Organisation put its first satellite into orbit in March 1968 and was successful with two more before the end of that year. It was not entirely surprising therefore that the third annual ESLAB/ESRIN Symposium should in some way deal with the results obtained. This book is the Proceedings of that Sym­ posium which, for reasons which Dr. Trendelenburg explains in the introductory talk, concentrated on intercorrelating phenomena occurring during solar events and in particular during the event of 25 February 1969. It is generally acknowledged that space data could yield a much more fruitful harvest if measurements taken simulta­ neously in different regions of space could be compared and the detectors inter­ calibrated. ESRO therefore sought right from the start to encourage this comparison of data. The first two days of the Symposium (16 and 17 September 1969) were devoted to review lectures on inter-related phenomena occurring on the sun, through inter­ planetary space and the magnetosphere right down to the earth''s ionosphere. The last two days were used to hear papers presenting results obtained from the ESRO and certain U. S. S. R. and U. S. A. satellites during the solar events around 25 February 1969. The Proceedings published here follow the same sequence as the Symposium presentations. Because of the short time interval between the solar event and the Symposium, some of the data presented in the second part must be regarded as preliminary.