astronomy

Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3

Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 rather than just read about it. In short: Copernicus or OAO-3 (Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3), also mentioned as Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-C, was a space telescope intended for ultraviolet and X-ray observation. After its launch, it was named Copernicus to mark the 500th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus in 1473.

Key takeaways

Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Copernicus or OAO-3 (Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3), also mentioned as Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-C, was a space telescope intended for ultraviolet and X-ray observation. After its launch, it was named Copernicus to mark the 500th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus in 1473. Part of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory program, it was a collaborative effort between NASA and the UK's Science Research Council (currently known as the Science and Engineering Research Council). Copernicus collected high-resolution spectra of hundreds of stars, galaxies and planets, remaining in service until February 1981.

History

The OAO-3 satellite, weighing 2,150 kg, was launched on August 21, 1972, by an Atlas SLV-3C from Launch Complex 36, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission used a new inertial reference unit that was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Between 1972 and February 1981, it returned high-resolution spectra of 551 stars along with extensive X-ray observations. Among the significant discoveries made by Copernicus were the discovery of several long-period pulsars such as X Persei that had rotation times of many minutes instead of the more typical second or less, and confirmation that most of the hydrogen in interstellar gas clouds existed in molecular form.

Instrumentation Copernicus carried two instruments:

an X-ray detector built by University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory; an 80 cm UV telescope built by Princeton University under the supervision of Lyman Spitzer.

See also Orbiting Astronomical Observatory Orbiting Solar Observatory

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3

In research: Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, Ultraviolet telescopes, X-ray telescopes, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 in simple terms?

Why does Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3.