The filter in the new HST NICMOS camera includes the HCO2 molecule .What is that?

Its name actually looks like HCOO. It is an important interstellar molecule produced by reactions such as HCO + OH -> HCOOH and HCO00 + H - > HCOOH and CO2 + H3 -> HCOOH + H.

The NICMOS array Camera 2 has two filters F171M and F180M operating between 1.68 and 1.83 microns to study the HCOOH molecule if it exists in molecular clouds or elsewhere such as comets or planetary atmospheres.


Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
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