Royal Astronomical Society recognition for Cardiff stargazers

The Royal Astronomy Society (RAS) has awarded its 2014 Group Achievement Award to the Cardiff led team behind the Herschel Space Observatory's SPIRE instrument. The award represents recognition by the astronomical community of the outstanding success of the SPIRE instrument, which observed the Universe at far infrared wavelengths, a few hundred times longer than the wavelengths of visible light. Led by Professor Matt Griffin from the School of Physics and Astronomy, the international team was responsible for the design, construction and delivery of the instrument as part of the instrument suite for ESA's Herschel Space Observatory. The Herschel satellite was launched in 2009 and operated very successfully for four years. By virtue of its unparalleled sensitivity and unique capabilities, the results obtained using SPIRE have been felt across a broad swath of astrophysics and in particular in detailed studies of star formation in the local Universe and extending out to very distant objects. Speaking of the award, SPIRE Principal Investigator Professor Griffin said: "The whole SPIRE team is pleased and proud to be given this award. SPIRE has been a truly international endeavour, with 18 institutes in eight countries participating, and countless talented people with wide ranging expertise contributing to building and operating the instrument.