US {gamma-ray} space telescope set for launch (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News

A Nasa space telescope is about to launch on a mission to explore the Universe with "gamma-ray glasses".

The Glast mission will shed light on some of the most violent events in the Universe, that release massive amounts of energy in the form of gamma-rays.

It will scan the sky for massive cosmic explosions, giant black holes that hurl matter across space, and dense neutron stars with powerful magnetic fields.

Glast is due to lift off from Florida on Wednesday atop a Delta II rocket.

The US space agency is targeting a launch window from 1545 GMT to 1740 GMT at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7436088.stm

ON EDIT: For some reason, BBC has two very similar stories. Link to 2nd: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7398718.stm which appears to be more in-depth.

[shireen]

1. nice graphic here

shows the em spectrum vs. capabilities of different instruments at different wavelength ranges.



(edited to add: graphic came from the bbc link provided by the OP)

[Arctic Dave]

2. Thanks for the graphic.

I can hardly wait to see what this will "see".

[Bill McBlueState]

3. nice graphic

Note that except for the VLA, they're all space-based. It seems like it's a common misconception that Hubble is *the* space telescope.