Orbiting Solar Observatory

(OSO) Any of a series of US satellites launched between 1962 (OSO–1) and 1975 (OSO–8) and designed to study the Sun and solar phenomena, especially solar flares, from Earth orbit. The quality and range of the observations improved as the series progressed, with high spectral and spatial resolution in ultraviolet and X-ray spectral regions in later craft. Instruments have included a coronagraph, spectroheliograph, ultraviolet and X-ray spectrographs, photometers, gamma-ray detectors, and particle-flux sensors.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

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Born in Denbigh, Wales, Lunt was a consultant for the US Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars") program in the 1980s and developed the mirror for NASA's first Orbiting Solar Observatory. In 1997 he and Hogan established Coronado, and since then demand for its products has been increasing.

David Lunt (1942-2005)

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