Einstein Observatory

The High Energy Astronomy Observatory 2 (also HEAO HEAO -2 or B), named after its launch Einstein Observatory, was the first large X-ray telescope in space with good image quality.

HEAO -2 was developed by NASA and placed in a low Earth orbit on 12 November 1978, an Atlas - Centaur rocket from Cape Canaveral. The until April 1981 in operation HEAO -2 satellite was the first major Wolter telescope in space on board. Compared with previous X-ray satellites, the sensitivity was greatly improved and the spatial resolution with only a few arcseconds very good. This improvement is based on studies of cancer eye ( Crustacea ) by Professor Klaus Vogt and was created by astronomer JL G. Angel implemented. In addition to the main telescope with four instruments for the energy range 0.15 to 4.5 keV, it still had an X-ray monitor for the range 1.5-20 keV. With these capabilities, brought HEAO -2 great progress in many areas of X-ray astronomy.