NASA Herschel Science Center

Overview: The Herschel Space Observatory was a Cornerstone mission for the European Space Agency. The 3.5 m telescope was launched in 2009 with three instruments sensitive to radiation at far infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths allowing Herschel to explore the cold and dusty Universe. Herschel remained operational until 2013 exploring the formation and evolution of the first galaxies, clouds of gas and dust where new stars are being born, disks out of which planets may form and cometary atmospheres packed with complex organic molecules. Named after Sir William Herschel, the discoverer of the infrared spectrum and planet Uranus, and his sister and collaborator Caroline Herschel, the observatory had the largest infrared telescope sent to space at the time of its launch.

Links

NASA Herschel Science Center Homepage

Herschel at ESA

NASA Herschel Science Center (For Astronomers)

Herschel Science links and Legacy Documentation at ESA

NASA is a partner in the Herschel mission, with US participants providing mission-enabling instrument technology and sponsoring the NASA Herschel Science Center (NHSC) at IPAC. The NHSC was established to provide the US astronomical community with science and observational support. The NHSC also provided help to observers and archival users in the post-flight and archival phases of the mission.

For a recap of Herschel, see this article from the end of mission.

Mission News

NASA, ESA Reveal Tale of Death, Dust in Orion Constellation

News Release • November 22nd, 2022

In a tale of cosmic proportions, the region is being transformed by the massive stars that live and die within it.

New Images Using Data From Retired Telescopes Reveal Hidden Features

News Release • June 16th, 2022

New images using data from ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA missions showcase the dust that fills the space...

Water_trail-credit-esa-alma-nasa-le-kristensen

Long-awaited review reveals journey of water from interstellar clouds to habitable worlds

News Release • April 9th, 2021

Dutch astronomer Ewine van Dishoeck (Leiden University, the Netherlands), together with an international team of...

Multi-Wavelength View of a Supernova Remnant

News Release • January 7th, 2019

New Year's Eve may be past, but we are not done with fireworks just yet. This image, which includes data from ESA's...

Science Data, Discoveries and People: Legacy of the Herschel Space Observatory

News Release • September 21st, 2017

The Herschel mission, a trailblazing space observatory that provided a unique view of our cosmos during its almost...

Herschel's Chronicles of Galaxy Evolution

News Release • September 20th, 2017

Delving deep into the history of our cosmos, the Herschel Space Observatory scrutinised hundreds of thousands of...

More Mission News