dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (08/21/84)
An observatory in orbit around the Earth studied nearby stars for clues to possible alien civilizations. We'll tell you more about this satellite observatory -- in a moment. August 21 The Launch of Copernicus NASA's third Orbiting Astronomical Observatory was launched on today's date in the year 1972. After this satellite achieved orbit, it was christened Copernicus -- to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of the man called the "father of modern astronomy." Copernicus was the last in an early series of small orbiting telescopes -- launched in the late 60's and early 70's -- designed to study ultra-violet emissions from distant objects. Ultra-violet is even bluer-than-violet light -- and invisible to human eyes. These ultraviolet-seeking telescopes had to be placed above the Earth's atmosphere, which blocks most of the light at those wavelengths from reaching the Earth's surface. Orbiting observatories like Copernicus gave us a deep understanding of the materials and physical conditions in the vast spaces between stars -- as well as information on how the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere of our own planet is weakened by chlorine resulting from the freon used in aerosol spray cans. In 1975 Copernicus began studying three stars similar to our sun -- and only a dozen or so light-years away. One of the more exotic research questions was whether other possible intelligent life might be trying to contact Earth in the ultra-violet. Originally designed for only one year of use, Copernicus was finally shut down in December of 1980, after almost eight and half years of operation. Script by Diana Hadley and Harlan Smith. Reginald Turnhill, "The Observer's Spaceflight Directory", p. 194 Science News, February 7, 1981 (c) Copyright 1983, 1984 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin