The BRITE-Constellation Nanosatellite Space Mission And Its First Scientific Results

Author(s)
G Handler, Andrzej Pigulski, Werner Wolfgang Weiss, Rainer Kuschnig
Abstract

The BRIght Target Explorer (BRITE) Constellation is the first nanosatellite mission applied to astrophysical research. Five satellites in low-Earth orbits perform precise optical two-colour photometry of the brightest stars in the night sky. BRITE is naturally well suited for variability studies of hot stars. This contribution describes the basic outline of the mission and some initial problems that needed to be overcome. Some information on BRITE data products, how to access them, and how to join their scientific exploration is provided. Finally, a brief summary of the first scientific results obtained by BRITE is given.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
COROT Additional Program Working Group, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), University of Wrocław
No. of pages
5
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201716001001
Publication date
10-2017
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Physics and Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/888d0a29-2a45-462d-ba48-fd11395a99f5