Telescope Sensitivity & Discoveries

108

160

0

170

0

180

0

190

0

2000

Galil

eo

Sensitivity Improvement over the Eye

Year of observations

Telescopes alone

Photographic & electronic detection

106

104

102

Huygens

eyepie

ceSlo

w f

rati

os

Short

’s 2

1.5

”

Hers

chell’

s 4

8”

Ross

e’s

72

”

Photo

gra

ph

yM

ount

Wils

on 1

00

”

Mount

Palo

mar

20

0”

Sovie

t 6

-m

After Fig. 3.10 in Cosmic Discovery, M. Harwit

101

0

CC

Ds

Keck

, V

LT,

Gem

ini ..

.H

ST

NG

ST

1E-19

1E-18

1E-17

1E-16

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000Year

NEP (W/Hz^0.5)

1.E+00

1.E+01

1.E+02

1.E+03

1.E+04

1.E+05

1.E+06

1.E+07

Number of Pixels

NEP

Pixels

InSb and “astronomical capability”

Size matters: CCDs & Mosaics

1.E+06

1.E+07

1.E+08

1.E+09

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Year

Number of pixels2kx2k

UH4k NOAO 4k

NAOJMACHO

UH8k

SDSSCFHT12k

MEGACAM VLT ST24k x 24k

Gamma Ray Burster 990123

1 year

Peak mV~9m z > 1.6 L ~ 4x106 in two weeks

NOVA #2212G: "The Doomsday Asteroid" (Second Repack) Broadcast Transcript PBS Airdate: April 29, 1997 ANNOUNCER: Tonight on NOVA. Massive rocks have pounded the planets for centuries, but humans have never witnessed an actual impact until nearby Jupiter was pummeled. Could it happen here? Could Planet Earth be the next target? GENE SHOEMAKER: It's been treated as a little bit silly. We're not really being silly. Comets really do impact planets. CLARK CHAPMAN: And a big one could come in at any time. ANNOUNCER: Look out! Here comes "The Doomsday Asteroid." NOVA is funded by Prudential. Prudential. Insurance, health care, real estate, and financial services. For more than a century, bringing strength and stability to America's families. And by Merck. Merck . . .

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Energy-resolving Detectors

TES (Transition Edge Sensor/SQUID readout)

STJ (Superconducting Tunnel Junction/RF-Single Electron Transistor)

6x6 STJ

140 160 180 200 220 2400

20

40

60

80

100

Predicted QE

Wavelength (nm)

QE

STJ PerformanceSTJ spectrum

= 1.9°

0.15 Tuniverse: z = 3 Now: z = 0

50 Mpc

Kinney Bunner

Riegler Weiler