Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey

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The Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey ( GOODS ) is a multi-wavelength astronomical survey by NASA and ESO to study the evolution of galaxies and the early universe. For this purpose, two fields in the sky with a total size of approx. 300 square arc seconds were examined. The two fields are located in the northern sky around the " Hubble Deep Field North " and in the south around the " Chandra Deep Field South ". With this investigation, the deepest possible data (i.e. long exposure times) over a wide range of wavelengths (from X-ray to radio radiation) of the indicated areas of the sky are determined. A number of telescopes were used for this purpose: the space telescopes of NASA (Great Observatories: Hubble Space Telescope , Chandra (telescope) , Spitzer Space Telescope ) and ESA ( XMM-Newton , Herschel ) and the largest observatories on earth such as the ESO-VLT , Keck Observatory , Gemini Observatory (optical / near infrared), VLA (radio range). As astronomical objects are depicted at different points in time due to the finite speed of light through these “deep” recordings, the process of galaxy formation and growth can be investigated through such investigations. Since the universe looks similar in all directions, the number, types, and distribution of galaxies are the same everywhere. Because of this, such deep investigations can be made in any direction. These fields were selected because no interfering foreground objects can interfere with the investigation in these regions of the sky.

Scientific goals

  • Investigation of the mass growth of galaxies over the longest possible cosmic period
  • Determine the census of the energy production during star formation and supermassive black holes
  • Research into the formation and evolution of galaxies and active galaxy nuclei ( AGN )
  • Findings about the history of star formation at high redshift (z ~ 7)
  • Discovery of primordial (original) galaxies
  • Investigation of the distribution of dark and luminous matter at high redshifts
  • Discovery of distant supernovae with a high redshift to study cosmic expansion .

Use

Due to the large number of recordings in a wide variety of wave ranges, the researchers have a rich database of data from the GOODS investigation. The data of the individual wavelengths complement each other. In addition, a spectrum was recorded for many astronomical objects with which the chemical composition and physical data can be determined. The GOODS field was divided into two areas on the northern and southern skies, so that all earthbound observatories, which can only see part of the sky, can participate in the investigation. The GOODS data were made public without delay after their determination so that the scientific community can carry out further investigations with them.

Observations

The following observations were made for the GOODS investigation

  • Hubble: Optical examinations with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (2004) and the Wide Field camera 3 (2009)
  • Spitzer Space Telescope: Infrared
  • Chandra X-ray Telescope: X-rays
  • XMM Newtonian X-ray Telescope: X-rays
  • Herschel infrared telescope
  • VLT: with the instruments VIMOS, ISAAC and FORS
  • Keck Observatory

Results

See also

Web links

  • GOODS homepage
  • NASA Image of the Day Gallery January 7, 2010 - History Revealed - More than 12 billion years of cosmic history are shown in this panoramic, full-color view of thousands of galaxies.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ NASA - History Revealed
  2. David Elbaz: The Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey: far infrared imaging with Herschel , accessed January 17, 2010.
  3. stsci.edu: Strong Lens Candidates in GOODS Fields , accessed May 26, 2011