Youtube Twitter Facebook

Find us on:

Spitzer-logo
  • Home
  • Images
    • Astronomical
    • Artwork
    • Spectra & Graph
    • Photographs
    • All Images
    • Image Gallery Documentation
    • Image Use Policy
  • Video & Audio
    • Science Animations
    • Hidden Universe
    • IRrelevant Astronomy
    • Ask an Astronomer
    • Audio Podcasts
    • El Universo Escondido
    • Observatory Animations
    • All Videos
    • All Audio
  • News
    • Media Information
    • From Partners
    • News Release
    • Feature Article
    • All News
  • Explore
    • Spitzer Team Blog
    • Posters
    • Models
    • Screensavers
    • PS3 Themes
    • Wallpapers
    • Zoomables
  • The Mission
    • Where Is Spitzer Now?
    • Lyman Spitzer Jr.
    • Science
    • Technology
    • History
    • Mission Overview

previous page

next page

Giant Molecular Clouds

Scattered throughout the interstellar medium - the space between stars - giant molecular clouds, comprised primarily of hydrogen, are the reservoir of raw materials from which stars are born. By surveying the density and temperature of these cosmic clouds, Spitzer provides important clues about the physical conditions and chemical compositions that produce protostars, or baby stars.

Lyman Spitzer Jr.

Mission Overview

Where is Spitzer Now? Fast Facts The Spitzer Team

Technology

Innovations

Program Management Infrared Detector Developments Clever Choice of Orbit Store-and-Dump Telemetry

The Spacecraft

The Spacecraft Bus The Solar Panel Assembly

The Cryogenic Telescope Assembly

The Outer Shell The Telescope The Multiple Instrument Chamber The Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) The Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) The Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) The Cryostat

History

Spitzer's Heritage Early History Recent History

Science

Stars Dying Stars Planets and Disks Galaxies and the Universe's Origins Dwarfs and Low Mass Stars Giant Molecular Clouds Distant Galaxies and Origins of the Universe Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) / Supermassive Black Holes Extrasolar Planets

previous page

next page

Feedback • Mailing List • Privacy Policy • Image Use Policy • Credits • Legacy Site

Spitzer Science Center Infrared Processing and Analysis Center California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Spitzer Space Telescope is a NASA mission managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This website is maintained by the Spitzer Science Center, located on the campus of the California Institute of Technology and part of NASA's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center.