WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer)

Article: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/15sep_ninjaastronomy.htm

NASA is responsible for the discovery of WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer). WISE is a space telescope that will scan the entire sky at infrared wavelengths enabling people to see things that we have never before. It is considered to be the most sensitive set of infrared “goggles” ever. With new wavelengths, scientists and astronomers will be able to see things such as dust clouds, dim unidentified objects, brown dust stars, and asteroids that are hazardous to Earth that previous instruments couldn’t see. WISE will help scientists and astronomers answer unsolved questions about our universe.

WISE was chosen in 2003 by NASA to study. It was then approved in 2004 to proceed into the design phase. William Irace of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is the project manager of WISE. The cost of creating and launching this instrument will cost NASA approximately $208 million. It was scheduled to launch in 2008. However, damage occurred during testing and caused errors, postponing the launch. WISE is now rescheduled to launch on December 10, 2009 and will begin sending information four times a day to awaiting scientists at ground station locations.

What interested me so much about this breakthrough were the endless possibilities of WISE. If the instrument can see certain things that previous instruments couldn’t, we might find more things in the universe than anyone imagined. WISE makes me wonder if we will make new discoveries about life on other planets that surround us. Also, I wonder if there are other kinds of light that would enable us to find out more about the universe. I feel the more information we find out about the universe, the more interesting life gets.

WISE is so important to launch because it could potentially save our Earth from some type of destruction we aren’t prepared for. Asteroids in particular have been somewhat difficult to recognize with visible-light telescopes because they are cold. These cold asteroids emit infrared wavelengths that WISE will now be able to detect. Also, visible-light telescopes can only identify asteroids with reflective surfaces. WISE will identify very dark asteroids that may have been missed in the past. The infrared information that WISE will unveil includes the size, location, quantity, and danger of these asteroids helping us prevent possible destruction.

In contrast, stars are warm bodies that emit visible light, which explains why people can see them on a clear night. When new stars are created, dusty clouds conceal them, preventing ordinary light from escaping. However, infrared light does escape enabling WISE to see what actually happens when stars are created. Also, failed stars, which are called brown dwarfs, outnumber the amount of ordinary stars in the universe. WISE will study these brown dwarfs and new stars in our Milky Way, helping scientists possibly see into the past evolution of our own galaxy.

WISE is definitely science in my opinion. It is going to revolutionize the way we look at the universe in literally a new light. Our ideas that we are covering in class definitely relate to WISE. There have been many scientific instruments invented over time, including Newton’s telescope. WISE reminds me of the leap that Isaac Newton made when he designed the reflecting telescope in the 17th century. His invention led to many discoveries about the universe, which I hope WISE will achieve. WISE will further our knowledge and insight of the unknown things in our universe today, only helping us for tomorrow and the rest of Earth’s future.

Works Cited

Barry, Patrick. "NASA - In Search of Dark Asteroids (and Other Sneaky Things)." NASA - Science@NASA. 15 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. .

Clavin, Whitney. "NASA's WISE Mission Arrives at Launch Site - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory." Space, Stars, Mars, Earth, Planets and More - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. .

"Space Spin - WISE arrives at launch site." Space Spin - robotic exploration. 18 Aug. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. .

"Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. .

"WISE - Multimedia Gallery: Movies." WISE: Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer. 18 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. .