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T.A. Barlow (CalTech), GALEX Science Team
The Galaxy Evolution Explorer performs UV imaging and spectroscopic surveys designed to study the history of star formation to z~2. Other goals include UV calibration of local galaxies for comparison to high-z galaxies at similar rest wavelengths, and production of legacy surveys containing > ~107 galaxies (> ~105 with spectroscopy), as well as stars, quasars, diffuse emission, and an ``all-sky survey" of > 10,000 deg2.
During its 28 month mission, GALEX will complete three complementary spectroscopic surveys. The planned depths in AB mag (and coverages in deg sq.) for the wide, medium, and deep spectroscopic surveys are 20.0 (100), 23.5 (10), and 24.5 (2) respectively. We present refinements of those numbers as well as spectral sensitivity, spectral resolution, and spectrophotometric accuracy.
By rotating an optics wheel to introduce a grism into the converging beam, GALEX performs slitless spectroscopy over the entire 1.24 deg diameter imaged field of view. This is the first space-based UV grism working below 1850 Angstroms. Observations at different grism position angles on the sky permit us to untangle overlapping spectra from nearby objects. We discuss the spectroscopic data reduction as well as the status and preliminary results.
GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) is a NASA Small Explorer, launched in April 2003. The GALEX mission gratefully acknowledges NASA support for construction, operation, and science analysis, and CNES and CNRS support in France for optical design, back focal optics development, and science analysis.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.