TINI: a mission for FUV spectroscopy of extended objects

Abstract

The far ultraviolet (FUV, 91.2 nm to 180 nm) is the wavelength region with the greatest density of absorption and emission lines. However, despite of being one of the most exciting parts of the astrophysical spectrum, FUV missions are rare, partly due to the need for an instrument with a windowless, open-face detector. TINI, the Tuebingen-IIA Nebula Investigator, is a proposed space mission that addresses this unique wavelength range with a 12U imaging spectrograph tailored for observations of diffuse sources like nebulae or the ISM. It features a field-of-view of 0.7 ◦ with 1300 spatial resolution and a spectral resolution of 0.8 ˚A (resolving power R ≈ 2000). The mission is led by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, where the instrument is developed. The detectors are a contribution by the University of T¨ubingen. This publication provides a brief overview of the scientific goals, the instrument, and the planned mission concept.