The Compton observatory in perspective

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Abstract
The Arthur Holly Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (Compton) was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on 5 April 1991. The spacecraft and instruments are in good health and returning exciting results. The mission provides nearly six orders of magnitude in spectral coverage, from 15 keV to 30 GeV, with sensitivity over the entire range and order of magnitude better than that of previous observations. The 16,000 kilogram observatory contains four instruments on a stabilized platform. The mission began normal operations on 16 May 1991 and has now almost completed a full‐sky survey. The mission duration is expected to be from six to ten years. A Science Support Center has been established at Goddard Space Flight Center for the purpose of supporting a vigorous Guest Investigator Program. New scientific results to date include: (1) the establishment of the isotropy, combined with spatial inhomogeneity, of gamma‐ray bursts on the sky; (2) the discovery of intense high energy (100 MeV) gamma‐ray emission from 3C 279 and other AGNs and BL Lac objects, making these the most distant and luminous gamma‐ray sources ever detected; (3) the observation of intense nuclear and positron‐annihilation gamma‐ray lines and neutrons from several large solar flares; (4) the discovery and multi‐wavelength observation of a very bright hard X‐ray transient in August 1992, and detection of several other transients; and (5) the detection of three new gamma‐ray pulsars, including the discovery that Geminga is a pulsar emitting most of its energy as gamma rays.

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