GLOWS “first light” from orbit

At the end of October this year, GLOWS, along with other instruments on board the IMAP mission, established contact with Earth. In the following days, our photometer was powered on and began collecting observational data. This is still an initial phase during which optimal parameters have not yet been reached; therefore, the data do not yet possess scientific quality. Nevertheless, the results obtained show remarkably good agreement with theoretical models and the pre-launch calibration.

The first light curve demonstrates that our instrument records signals with high precision. We can see the expected stars and a glow level consistent with the assumed models.

Unexpectedly, we also captured a comet that happened to pass through GLOWS’s field of view.

At the end of January 2026, IMAP will reach its target orbit around the L1 point (1,500,000 km from Earth). The mission’s science phase is set to begin in early February.