Spitzer's Solar Panels Shield the Observatory from the Sun
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC)
Artwork • • SIRTF_ir_back
SIRTF_ir_back
Spitzer seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).The Spitzer solar panels also double as a solar shield that always faces the Sun, protecting the cold observatory from the Sun's heat.
About the Object
- Name
- Spitzer Space Telescope • Milky Way
- Type
- Technology > Observatory > Facility
- Technology > Observatory > Telescope
- Technology > Spacecraft > Orbiter
- Galaxy > Component > Dust Lane
- Galaxy > Component > Disk
