The Multi-purpose InfraRed Imaging System (MIRIS) was a compact near-infrared space telescope that launched in November 2013 as the main payload of the Science and Technology Satellite 3 of the Republic of Korea. After 18 months of observations, the satellite concluded its operation in May 2015. The Galactic Plane (pictured) was observed using narrowband filters centred on the Paschen α (Paα) emission line from ionized hydrogen atoms in the ISM. Given their longer wavelength, Paα photons are less affected by dust and therefore allow a deeper view on areas of the Milky Way that are otherwise obscured: the Galactic Centre and dense star-forming regions. The observations cover the whole 360° of the plane between Galactic latitudes of −3° to +3°. The high sensitivity (better than 16 AB magnitude) and resolution (52 arcseconds), combined with the full coverage of the Galactic Plane, are estimated to yield over a 1,000 newly identified H ii regions. Comparison with surveys at shorter wavelengths will also provide a detailed map of dust extinction along the plane.
In addition to the spectroscopic survey of the warm ISM in the Galactic Plane, MIRIS conducted a continuum survey of the north ecliptic pole and the north and south Galactic poles, and a bi-daily continuum monitoring survey towards the north ecliptic pole. The analysis of the continuum survey products will mainly focus on constraining the near-infrared background that is thought to contain signatures of relic emission from high redshift galaxies and accreting primordial black holes at or near the epoch of reionization.
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