Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics
An artist's impression of the ASCA satellite in orbit. (Credit: ISAS/JAXA)
Lifetime: February 1993 - March 2001
Country (primary): Japan
Primary Science
The Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics, or ASCA for short, was designed to perform spectroscopic X-ray astronomy in the 1 to 12 keV waveband with particular emphasis on spectroscopy of the iron K line.
Science Highlights
- Observed broad iron lines from active galactic nuclei
- Produced spectra of interacting binary systems
- Determined the abundances of heavy elements in clusters of galaxies was consistent with the elements coming from type II supernovae