Herschel snaps the Whirlpool galaxy with stunning clarity
The largest infrared space telescope that cost a billion euros has finally given a demonstration of what it holds for the future of space research. Its first target was the Whirlpool galaxy, also called the M51 and the results of the test view are pleasing to the entire world.
It has been a month since the ESA launched the Herschel and although the images weren’t expected this soon, a test run has baffled even the experts. Herschel used the Photoconductor Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS is one part of the telescope that covers the shorter end of the spectrum) to snap images at 70, 100 and 160 microns.
The clarity of the image trumps the quality rendered by the likes of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, the size being an obvious advantage. The result gives us an assurance that Herschel is more than capable in terms of helping ESA study the formation of galaxies and stars and their evolvement through cosmic time.
