a small field in the galactic plane is proposed for mapping with iso. the selected line of sight is dominated by material located in the high concentration of molecular clouds and hii regions complexes known as the molecular ring, viewed tangentially. a field with minimal confusion in this densely populated region has been carefully selected, free of active star forming regions, and where high resolution spectral maps of molecules are available, that provide detailed geometric information on all individual clouds along the line of sight. this information will be used to spatially decompose the iso maps in contributions from the different components and clouds along the line of sight, in an analogous way to earlier studies of the local interstellar medium based on iras images. the goal of the proposed observations is to provide accurate photometric measurements of the infrared emission from representative clouds bathing in the strong radiation field of the molecular ring. iso is the only facility capable of sufficiently accurate measurements of extended emission at sub-pc scale in the molecular ring, over the infrared spectrum. in order to ensure the success of this nevertheless non-trivial proposal, the expertise of the isocam calibration team at institut d.astrophysique spatiale will be fully exploited for the data processing. these observations, closely coupled with the spectral survey of the cold interstellar medium proposed by j.l. puget, should help making significant progress in interstellar physics. providing details on the infrared emission from a normal disk galaxy, they will also be helpful in the interpretation of infrared data from external galaxies.
Instrument
CAM01 , PHT32
Temporal Coverage
1996-09-19T22:52:57Z/1996-10-24T19:54:30Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
European Space Agency, PERAULT et al., 1999, 'PHOTO-IMAGING OF QUIESCENT MOLECULAR CLOUDS IN THE INNER GALAXY', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-1kyaqy7
