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Delve into the unseen world of infrared visualizations with Dr. Robert Hurt and the Spitzer Science Center team. Learn about the Spitzer Space Telescope's humble beginnings, colorful palette, and tools for creating mesmerizing images. Discover how IRAC, MIPS, and IRS instruments capture the beauty of star formation and cosmic chemistry. Join the Astro Visualization Group for a deeper dive into astronomical imagery and stay updated on the latest discoveries at www.spitzer.caltech.edu.
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Seeing Infrared Visualizations Beyond the Visible Dr. Robert Hurt Spitzer Science Center
Our Staff • Public Affairs • Gordon Squires, PA Lead/News Chief • Robert Hurt, Imaging Scientist • Tim Pyle, Animation & Illustration • Whitney Clavin, PAO/press writer (JPL) • Gay Yee Hill, PAO/press writer (JPL) • Education & Public Outreach • Michelle Thaller, E/PO Lead • Doris Daou, E/PO Deputy Lead • Linda Hermans, Content development • Jim Keller, Webmaster & Video prod.
Humble Beginnings SIRTF (a.k.a. Spitzer Space Telescope) “Aliveness Test” 3 September 1993
Alive Indeed (and KICKING!)
IRAC: 4-Channel Imager • 256 x 256 array • 4 channels in two sets • Coverage does not fully overlap • Wavelengths of 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 & 8.0 µm • Shorter wavelengths: starlight • Longer wavelengths: dust/PAH’s (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) • Small detectors + high sensitivity + patience • = images to rival even Hubble’s ACS!
MIPS - Long Wavelengths • Detectors at 24, 70, 160 µm • Light is mainly thermal dust • Excellent tracer of star formation and protostars! • Resolution degrades rapidly • 24 µm is 3 times lower than 8 µm • 160 µm is 6 times lower than 24 µm and 20 times lower than 8 µm!
IRS - Pesky Squiggly Lines • Infrared Spectrograph from 5–35 µm • Sensitive detector of cosmic chemistry • Over half of cycle 2 time devoted to IRS • Always a challenge to the visualizer, those pesky squiggly lines…
An Embarrassment of Riches • IRAC provides 4 channels by itself • MIPS adds 1 (or more) channels • May need contrast with visible, other bands • How does one handle all this? • Use more than 3 color channels • Package images with multiple panels, insets • Mix up the channel mappings if useful • Hopefully don’t overload the press & public!
The Tools • Images & Illustration • Photoshop • + FITS Liberator • Illustrator • Animation • After Effects • Lightwave 3D
Measuring Image Success • Having one published • Yes! • Having one published and appear on Astronomy Picture of the Day • Yes! • Having one published but mistaken for a Hubble Image • Yes! • Having a published Hubble Image mistaken for a Spitzer Image • Not yet, but…
Astro Visualization Group • As result of NEI Focus Group at AMNH, “astro-vis” mailing list formed • Open to anyone interested http://groups.yahoo.com/group/astro-viz/