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Title:
Preliminary spectral observations of the Galaxy with a 7 deg beam by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)
Authors:
Wright, E. L.; Mather, J. C.; Bennett, C. L.; Cheng, E. S.; Shafer, R. A.; Fixsen, D. J.; Eplee, R. E., Jr.; Isaacman, R. B.; Read, S. M.; Boggess, N. W.; Gulkis, S.; Hauser, M. G.; Janssen, M.; Kelsall, T.; Lubin, P. M.; Meyer, S. S.; Moseley, S. H., Jr.; Murdock, T. L.; Silverberg, R. F.; Smoot, G. F.; Weiss, R.; Wilkinson, D. T.
Affiliation:
AA(California, University, Los Angeles), AB(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AC(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AD(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AE(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AF(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AG(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AH(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AI(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD), AJ(NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD)
Publication:
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 381, Nov. 1, 1991, p. 200-209. (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
11/1991
Category:
Astrophysics
Origin:
STI
NASA/STI Keywords:
Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite, Infrared Spectra, Milky Way Galaxy, Grains, Infrared Spectrophotometers, Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds
DOI:
10.1086/170641
Bibliographic Code:
1991ApJ...381..200W

Abstract

The FIR absolute spectrophotometer (FIRAS) on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) has carried out the first all-sky spectral line survey in the FIR region, as well as mapping spectra of the Galactic dust distribution at below 100 microns. Lines of forbidden C I, C II, and N II, as well as of CO are all clearly detected. The mean line intensities are interpreted in terms of the heating and cooling of the multiple phases of the interstellar gas. In addition, an average spectrum of the galaxy is constructed and searched for weak lines. The spectrum of the galaxy observed by FIRAS has two major components: a continuous spectrum due to interstellar dust heated by starlight, and a line spectrum dominated by the strong 158-micron line from singly ionized carbon, with a spatial distribution similar to the dust distribution, and a luminosity of 0.3 percent of the dust luminosity. There are in addition moderately strong 122- and 205.3-micron lines, identified as coming from singly-ionized nitrogen. Maps of the emission by dust and forbidden C II and N II are presented.

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