Abstract
Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) onboard AstroSat is an Xray sky monitor in the soft X-ray band designed with a large field of view to detect and locate transient X-ray sources and alert the astronomical community about interesting phenomena in the X-ray sky. SSM comprises position sensitive proportional counters with 1D coded mask for imaging. There are three detector units mounted on a platform capable of rotation which helps covering about 50% of the sky in one full rotation. This paper discusses the elaborate details of the instrument and few immediate results from the instrument after launch.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Forman, W., Jones, C., Cominsky, L., Julien, P., Murray, S, Peters, G., Tananbaum, H., Giacconi, R.: The fourth Uhuru catalog of x-ray sources. ApJS 38, 357 (1978)
Wood, K.S., Meekins, J.F., Yentis, D.J., Smathers, H.W., McNutt, D.P., Bleach, R.D., Friedman, H., Byram, E.T., Chubb, T.A., Meidav, M.: The HEAO A-1 X-ray source catalog. ApJS 56, 507 (1984)
Boller, Th., Freyberg, M.J., Trümper, J., Haberl, F., Voges, W., Nandra, K.: Second ROSAT all-sky survey (2RXS) source catalogue. A&A 588, 103 (2016)
Jager, R., Mels, W.A., Brinkman, A.C., Galama, M.Y., Goulooze, H., Heise, J., Lowes, P., Muller, J.M., Naber, A., Rook, A., et al.: The wide field cameras onboard the beppoSAX X-ray Astronomy Satellite. A&AS 125, 557 (1997)
Levine, A.M., Bradt, H., Cui, W., Jernigan, J.G., Morgan, E.H., Remillard, R., Shirey, R.E., Smith, D.A.: First results from the All-Sky monitor on the Rossi x-ray timing explorer. ApJ 469, L33 (1996)
Strohmayer, T., Bildsten, L.: New views of thermonuclear bursts. In: Compact Stellar X-Ray Sources, Cambridge Astrophysics Series No.39, pp. 113–156. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2006)
Matsuoka, M., Kawasaki, K., Ueno, S., Tomida, H., Kohama, M., Suzuki, M., Adachi, Y., Ishikawa, M., Mihara, T., Sugizaki, M., et al.: The MAXI mission on the ISS: science and instruments for monitoring All-Sky X-ray images. PASJ 61, 999 (2009)
Singh, K.P., Tandon, S.N., Agrawal, P.C., Antia, H.M., Manchanda, R.K., Yadav, J.S., Seetha, S., Ramadevi, M.C., Rao, A.R., Bhattacharya, D., et al.: ASTROSAT Mission. In: Proceedings of SPIE 2014, vol. 91442T, 9144–100 (2014). doi:10.1117/12.2062667
Seetha, S., Ramadevi, M.C., Babu, V.C., Sharma, M.R., Murthy, N.S.R., Ashoka, B.N., Shyama, K.C., Kulkarni, R., Meena, G., Sreekumar, P.: The scanning sky monitor (SSM) on AstroSat. Adv. Space Res. 38, 2995–2998 (2006)
Ramadevi, M.C., Seetha, S., Babu, V.C., Ashoka, B.N., Sreekumar, P.: Optimization of gas proportional counters for scanning sky monitor (SSM) onboard AstroSat. Adv. Space Res. 38, 3002–3004 (2006)
Ramadevi, M.C., Babu, V.C., Ashoka, B.N., Seetha, S.: High-gain effects minimized at the ends of the anodes in position sensitive gas proportional counters for SSM on AstroSat. Exp. Astron. 39(1), 11–20 (2015)
Zand, J.: init, PhD Thesis, University of Utrecht, Netherlands (1992)
Bhattacharya, D., Ravi Shankar, B.T.: Imaging with the scanning sky monitor on AstroSat. BASI 30, 833–834 (2002)
Ravishankar, B.T., Bhattacharya, D.: Image reconstruction for a continuously rotating coded mask camera. BASI 31, 491–492 (2003)
Balaji, K., Narendra, S., Nagesh, G., Sridharamurthy, V., Bhat, N.C.: Development of mechanisms for AstroSat. In: Proceedings of the 5th National Seminar & Exhibition on Aerospace and Related Mechanisms, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, November 18-19, ARMS-05-MSA-02, pp. 67–73 (2005)
Balaji, K., Nagesh, G., Nataraju, B.S., Lakshminarayana, B.: Dynamics of payload release mechanism. In: Proceedings of the 6th National Seminar & Exhibition on Aerospace and Related Mechanisms (ARMS2008), Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pashan, Pune, March 28-29, ED/P/20, pp. 333–337 (2008)
Ramadevi, M.C., Seetha, S.: Spectral calibration of scanning sky monitor on AstroSat. Exp. Astron. 31(2-3), 83–98 (2011)
Ramadevi, M.C., Ravishankar, B.T., Seetha, S.: Position calibration methodology for scanning sky monitor for AstroSat. Exp. Astron. 31(2-3), 99–114 (2011)
Ramadevi, M.C., Ravishankar, B.T., Nandi, A., Girish, V., Singh, B., Jain, A., Agrawal, V.K., Agarwal, A., Bhattacharya, D., Seetha, S., et al.: Detection of beta-class variability in Black Hole source GRS 1915+105 by AstroSat Sacnning Sky Monitor Astronomer’s Telegram ATel #8185 (2015)
Acknowledgments
SSM team acknowledges Director, ISAC for the constant support for delivery of this payload followed by the successful launch of AstroSat. The team also acknowledges various entities at ISAC who have contributed their part in successful completion of various processes and procedures towards delivery of the payload.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ramadevi, M.C., Seetha, S., Bhattacharya, D. et al. Scanning sky monitor (SSM) onboard AstroSat. Exp Astron 44, 11–23 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-017-9536-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-017-9536-3