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? asked in Science & MathematicsAstronomy & Space · 2 weeks ago

The Gaia space telescope?

Does anyone know what frequency range the Gaia telescope does its observations in? Visible light, infrared, UV, etc.? If it's visible light then wouldn't that be a problem in observing stars through the galactic dust clouds?

4 Answers

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  • Ruel The Midianite
    Lv 4
    2 weeks ago
    Favourite answer

    Gaia uses CCDs, which are visible light plus infrared response down to about 1 micron wavelength.  And yes, some stars behind dense dust clouds will not be observed.  Basically Gaia observes all stars that are brighter than about 20th magnitude in visible light, so a star that is losing a few magnitudes to interstellar dust is still visible to it.  There are 2 billion such stars! 

  • ReductioAdAstronomicus
    Lv 6
    2 weeks ago

    For once, wikipedia has an excellent article on space research. You can read about Gaia here:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft)

    Source(s): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft)
  • Ronald 7
    Lv 7
    2 weeks ago

    Infrared is the best Wavelength for looking through Intergalactic Dust Clouds as it shows up signs of heat

    Attachment image
    Source(s): Intergalactic Dust Spreader
  • Mitchell
    2 weeks ago

    I don't know what the capabilities of that telescope are but they might be listed on NASA or wiki.

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