Submillimetre astronomy

Submillimetre Astronomy is the branch of observational astronomy that is conducted at submillimetre wavelengths. It is often described as residing in the far-infrared or between the infrared and radio wavebands. Astronomers place the submillimetre waveband between the far-infrared and microwave wavebands, typically taken to be between a few hundred microns and a millimetre. (Note that the Commonwealth English spelling is "submillimetre" while the American English spelling is "submillimeter").

Related Topics:
Often described as residing in the far-infrared - Infrared - Radio - Far-infrared - Microwave - Commonwealth English - American English

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Using submillimetre observations, astronomers examine molecular clouds and dark cloud cores with a goal of clarifying the process of star formation from earliest collapse to stellar birth. Space-based observations of these dark clouds will attempt to determine chemical abundances and cooling mechanisms for the molecules which comprise them. In addition, submillimetre observations will attempt to determine the mechanisms for the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Related Topics:
Molecular clouds - Star formation - Collapse - Galaxies

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