EXOSAT
The European X-ray Observatory Satellite

The EXOSAT satellite was operational from May 1983 until April 1986 and in that time made 1780 observations in the X-ray band of most classes of astronomical object. The payload consisted of three instruments that produced spectra, images and light curves in various energy bands. Two LE Low-Energy Imaging Telescopes, each with a CMA channel-multiplier array at the focus, were sensitive over the energy range 0.05 - 2 keV and used passband filters to obtain coarse spectral information. The insertion of a diffraction grating into the beam gave high-resolution TGS spectra capable of resolving emission-line complexes. These telescopes provided the first detailed observations in the EUV  between 100 and 300 Å. The Medium-Energy ME instrument consisted of an array of proportional counters with a total area of 1600 cm² that gave moderate spectral resolution in the 1 - 50 keV band. A factor of two better spectral resolution over the 2 - 20 keV band was provided by the GSPC Gas-Scintillation Proportional Counter with a collecting area of 100 cm².

    EXOSAT Science Archive at ESA/ESAC

We are happy to announce the availability of a new EXOSAT Science Archive developed by the Science Archives and vO Team at ESA/ESAC . Images, spectra and light curves are available now through this new tool, driven by ESA's new archive technology, for astronomers to complement modern X-ray studies with historical measurements.

This new facility will improve, we hope, the access to EXOSAT data, as it provides additional capabilities to search for and visualize data.

The EXOSAT Science Archive The EXOSAT Mission Archive Area at ESA The EXOSAT Medium Energy Slew-Survey