COS—Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
COS—Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) is a cutting-edge scientific instrument that has significantly advanced our understanding of the universe's origins and evolution. Installed on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during the fifth and final HST servicing mission in 2009, COS is designed to dissect the light from distant celestial objects into its constituent wavelengths, providing scientists with invaluable data on the composition, temperature, and motion of various cosmic phenomena.
COS has played a pivotal role in a wide range of astronomical investigations, including the study of distant galaxies, intergalactic gas clouds, and the properties of exoplanets' atmospheres. It has enabled scientists to probe the cosmic web, unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, and uncover the chemical fingerprints of elements essential for life.