Swift satellite goes fully on-line
{{date|February 2, 2005}}
[[Image:Nasa swift satellite.jpg|thumb|right|Swift satellite]]
[[w:NASA|NASA]]'s Swift satellite has completed all tests since
its launch last November and with the [[w:UVOT|Ultravioliet/Optical Telescope]]
(UVOT) now on line, is now fully functional for the mission's 2 year quest
for [[w:Gamma ray burster|gamma-ray burst]]s.

[[Image:m101 combined low.jpg|thumb|right|Swift image of Pinwheel
Galaxy]]

The UVOT was tested on the [[w:NGC 5457|Pinwheel Galaxy]] (M101).

"After many years of effort building the UVOT, it was exciting to
point it toward the famous Pinwheel Galaxy, M101," said Dr. Peter
Roming, UVOT Lead Scientist at Penn State University. "The ultraviolet
wavelengths in particular reveal regions of star formation in the
galaxy's wispy spiral arms. But more than a pretty image, this
first-light observation is a test of the UVOT's capabilities."

Gamma ray bursts are some of the most powerful objects observed
in the Universe and are thought to signal the birth of black
holes.

Swift is designed to detect the bursts and automatically
re-orient itself to gather images and data of the phenomenon.
Swift detected and imaged its first official burst on January 17,
2005, before the UVOT was operational with the aid of the [[w:BAT|Burst
Alert]] (BAT) and [[w:XRT|X-ray]] (XRT) telescopes activated several weeks
earlier.  The BAT detects the gamma-ray bursts, automatically and
immediately turns the telescope, bringing the XRT
and UVOT to bear on the location of the event which record
detailed observations of the burst afterglow.

The UVOT is a joint product of [[w:Pennsylvania State University|Penn State University]] and the Mullard Space
Science Laboratory.

==See also==
* January 21, 2005: [[NASA's Swift detects possible birth of black hole]]

==References==
*{{source|url=http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/swift/news/2005/uvot_firstlight.html|author= |title=Swift Sees Pinwheel Galaxy, Satellite Fully Operational|pub=NASA|date= February 1, 2005}}

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[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Black holes]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania State University]]
[[Category:Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission]]
Swift satellite
NASA's Swift satellite has completed all tests since
its launch last November and with the Ultravioliet/Optical Telescope
(UVOT) now on line, is now fully functional for the mission's 2 year quest
for gamma-ray bursts.

Swift image of Pinwheel
Galaxy

The UVOT was tested on the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101).

"After many years of effort building the UVOT, it was exciting to
point it toward the famous Pinwheel Galaxy, M101," said Dr. Peter
Roming, UVOT Lead Scientist at Penn State University. "The ultraviolet
wavelengths in particular reveal regions of star formation in the
galaxy's wispy spiral arms. But more than a pretty image, this
first-light observation is a test of the UVOT's capabilities."

Gamma ray bursts are some of the most powerful objects observed
in the Universe and are thought to signal the birth of black
holes.

Swift is designed to detect the bursts and automatically
re-orient itself to gather images and data of the phenomenon.
Swift detected and imaged its first official burst on January 17,
2005, before the UVOT was operational with the aid of the Burst
Alert (BAT) and X-ray (XRT) telescopes activated several weeks
earlier.  The BAT detects the gamma-ray bursts, automatically and
immediately turns the telescope, bringing the XRT
and UVOT to bear on the location of the event which record
detailed observations of the burst afterglow.

The UVOT is a joint product of Penn State University and the Mullard Space
Science Laboratory.
Science and technology Space Black holes Pennsylvania State University Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission