Abstract
Currently there are four operating near-UV imaging space telescopes, one of which is the Swift Ultra-Violet/Optical Telescope (UVOT). Although the UVOT was primarily built for observations of γ-ray bursts, it has become a powerful instrument for studying other types of UV and optical astronomical phenomena. Here we discuss the properties of the UVOT, summarize some of the science undertaken with the UVOT, and present other possible science goals for the UVOT that have not yet been pursued. We also discuss some lessons learned that apply to future UV telescopes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barthelmy, S.D., et al.: Space Sci. Rev. 121, 143 (2005)
Bianchi, L.: Mem. della Soc. Astron. Ital. 71, 1117 (2000)
Blustin, A.J., et al.: Astrophys. J. 637, 901 (2006a)
Blustin, A.J., et al.: In: Wilson, A. (ed.) Proceedings of the X-ray Universe 2005, p. 69. ESA Publication Division, Noordwijk (2006b)
Brocksopp, C., et al.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 365, 1203 (2006)
Brown, P.J., et al.: Astrophys. J. 635, 1192 (2005)
Brown, P.J., et al.: Astrophys. J. 659, 1488 (2007)
Bruzual, G., Charlot, S.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 344, 1000 (2003)
Burrows, D.N., et al.: Space Sci. Rev. 121, 165 (2005)
Campana, S., et al.: Nature 442, 1008 (2006)
Carranza, G., Crillon, R., Monnet, G.: Astron. Astrophys. 1, 479 (1969)
Clavel, J., et al.: Astrophys. J. 393, 113 (1992)
Gehrels, N., et al.: Astrophys. J. 611, 1005 (2004)
Grupe, D., et al.: Astrophys. J. 662, 443 (2007)
Hodge, P.W., Kennicutt, R.C. Jr.: Astron. J. 88, 296 (1983)
Hoversten et al. (in prep.)
Immler, S., et al.: Astrophys. J. 648, 119 (2006)
Immler, S., et al.: Astrophys. J. 664, 435 (2007)
Kennicutt, R.C. Jr.: Astrophys. J. 334, 144 (1988)
Mason, K.O., et al.: Astron. Astrophys. 365, L36 (2001)
Mason, K.O., et al.: Icarus 187, 123 (2007)
Murthy, J., Henry, R.C.: Astrophys. J. 448, 848 (1995)
Petit, H., Hua, C.T., Bersier, D., Courtes, G.: Astron. Astrophys. 309, 446 (1996)
Poole, T.S., et al.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 383, 627 (2008)
Roming, P.W.A., et al.: Space Sci. Rev. 121, 95 (2005)
Roming, P.W.A., et al.: Astrophys. J. 652, 1416 (2006a)
Roming, P.W.A., et al.: Astrophys. J. 651, 985 (2006b)
Roming, P.W.A., et al.: Il Nuovo Cimento 121B, 1239 (2006c) doi:10.1393/ncb/i2007-10244-7
Schady, P., et al.: Astrophys. J. 643, 276 (2006)
Siegmund, O.H.W., et al.: Proc. SPIE 5488, 13 (2004)
Still, M., et al.: Astrophys. J. 635, 1187 (2005)
Tramacere, A., et al.: Astron. Astrophys. 467, 501 (2007)
Treyer, M., et al.: Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 173, 256 (2007)
Welsh, B.Y., et al.: Astron. J. 130, 825 (2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roming, P.W.A., Gronwall, C., Vanden Berk, D.E. et al. The Swift Ultra-Violet/Optical Telescope: a view of today and tomorrow. Astrophys Space Sci 320, 203–206 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-008-9813-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-008-9813-8