Observational Study and Analysis of Point Sources Found by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite

Abstract

Results are presented of studies of the space distribution and other properties of two significant classes of compact astrophysical sources which are bright at midinfrared wavelengths: stars with excess infrared emission due to heated dust, and galaxies with nuclei that heat surrounding dust to anomalously high temperatures. The stellar studies reveal a complex structure for the galactic disk, which must be taken into account in the development of realistic infrared sky models. The extragalactic studies have been temporarily stalled by the remarkable discovery of low-luminosity stars with strong far-infrared spectral energy distributions mimicking warm galaxies Much further observational work is needed to understand the origin of this emission.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 30, 1991
Accession Number
ADA248416

Entities

People

  • Susan G. Kleinmann

Organizations

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Astronomy
  • Atmospheres
  • Black Holes
  • Emission
  • Energy
  • Flux Density
  • High Latitudes
  • High Temperature
  • Latitude
  • Materials
  • Photonic Metamaterials
  • Spectra
  • Spectral Energy Distribution
  • Starlight
  • Stars
  • Variable Stars

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics

Technology Areas

  • Space