![]() ![]() ![]() We will learn so many new things from the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets, to the evolution of distant galaxies. It will enable us to look at cooler objects, which emit at these longer wavelengths. ‘Such a powerful infrared spectrometer in space will be unique. Watch the video on the original website or Accept cookies A giant leap forwardĪccording to Brandl, MIRI is a giant leap forward. Brandl: ‘MIRI will be able to “see” light in the mid-infrared spectrum, with wavelengths invisible to the human eye.’ĭue to the selected cookie settings, we cannot show this video here. A spectrometer catches the light emitted by an object in space and separates it into different wavelengths, creating a ‘fingerprint’ that contains key information on these astronomical objects. ‘I guided the team that developed the medium-resolution spectrometer of MIRI,’ he says. ‘The Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) was one of them.’īrandl took part in many discussions and interactions, and also participated in the first test campaigns of the instrument. ‘Unlike the other scientific instruments aboard, MIRI has not been designed and built by space agencies NASA and ESA, but by an international consortium of institutes,’ he says. Professor of Infrared Astronomy Bernhard Brandl was closely involved in the construction of MIRI. This became the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI): an infrared camera and spectrometer for which the Netherlands developed a large part of the optics and which will soon enable us to look right through cosmic dust. In 1997, van Dishoeck was part of a small group of scientists that suggested the idea of sending a hyper-sensitive infrared instrument along. She has been involved with JWST from the beginning. Part I: How the Dutch helped build one of the most important instruments on board.Ī key role is reserved for Leiden professor Ewine van Dishoeck. ![]()
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