GALEX Instrument Summary Header Body-ED
NASA GSFC: GALEX
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
 

This website is kept for archival purposes only and is no longer updated.

Site Home Page

Helpdesk

Targets

Tools

Data

Instrument & Calibration

Science

Documents

Cycle 6 Information

GALEX Project at Caltech

 

Telescope Aperture

50 cm

Optical Design

Modified Ritchey-Chrétien with 4 channels: FUV & NUV Imaging, FUV & NUV Spectroscopy. FUV & NUV obtained simultaneously using dichroic beam splitter also acting as a field aberration corrector.

Field of View

1.2 degrees, circular

Focal Length

3 m

Telescope coatings

Al+MgF2

Imaging/Grism Modes

Optics wheel with

 (1) CaF2 Imaging window, (2) CaF2 transmission grism; (3) Opaque position.

Grism Rotation

Grism position angle may be selected with a resolution of 0.3 degrees, independent of S/C roll

Dichroic/Corrector

Aspheric astigmatism corrector

Ion-etched fused silica (aspheric surfaces on both sides)

Dichroic beam splitter with dielectric multilayer coating on input side

FUV Channel

NUV Channel

Band

1350-1750 Å

1750-2800 Å

Beam path

Reflected from dichroic

Transmitted through dichroic

Filters

Blue edge filter

(blocks OI, Ly a - transmission)

Red block filter/Fold mirror

 (blocks red Zodaical light)

Detectors

Sealed tube Z-stack microchannel plate with crossed delay-line anodes

Detector Window

MgF2, includes power for field flattering

Fused Silica

includes power for field flattering

Detector Photocathode

CsI, opaque, repeller grid on window

Cs2Te, semitransparent

300 mm proximity gap

Detector peak QE

12%

8%

Detector maximum local countrate w/o temporary saturation within PSF

~100 c/s

~1000 c/s

System angular resolution

6.0 arcsec (80% EE diam)

4.0  arcsec (FWHM)

8.0 arcsec (80% EE diam)

5.6 arcsec (FWHM)

Spectral Resolution

250-300

80-150

Imaging Effective Area

25 cm2

44 cm2

Photometric Zero Point [1 ct/s] mAB

18.8

20.1

Spectroscopy Effective Area

20 cm2

39 cm2

 


Responsible NASA Official: Susan G. Neff
Curator:
J.D. Myers

NASA Privacy, Security, Notices