Suggested Searches

O VI

O VI refers to Oxygen that has been five-times ionized, and has a doublet spectral feature at approximately 103 nm. The Cosmic Origins Program Office has initiated the O VI Science Analysis Group (SAG) to consider important science that can be done with UV sensitivity to the O VI lines.

About O VI SAG

The Ultraviolet Waveband Will be Key to Addressing Astro2020 Decadal Survey Science Goals

The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be the next flagship mission of NASA Astrophysics capable of addressing fundamental questions concerning galaxy growth, cosmology, the evolution of elements, planetary systems, and more.

The O VI Science Analysis Group (SAG) will consider important science that can be done with UV sensitivity to the O VI lines and what these lines can do for understanding the circumgalactic medium of galaxies, and galaxy evolution more broadly.

Interacting Group of Galaxies Known as Stephan’s Quintet
Ultraviolet image of the interacting group of galaxies known as Stephan's Quintet (NGC 7317, NGC 7318A, NGC 7318B, NGC 7319, NGC 7320, lower left). Of the five galaxies in this tightly packed group, NGC 7320 (the large spiral in the group) is probably a foreground galaxy and not associated with the other four. The spiral galaxy in the upper right is NGC 7331.
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSC

The goals of this SAG are to analyze the status of theoretical predictions for far-UV spectral line diagnostics in simulations of galaxy evolution, and particularly the circumgalactic medium of galaxies. O VI is featured specifically because of its proximity to the far UV wavelength limit for practical UV coatings that may be considered for HWO. The SAG will synthesize the science goals and objectives that may be attained if HWO has sensitivity to this far-UV end of the wavelength spectrum and clearly articulate the science that would be lost if this wavelength were not accessible due to design trades in HWO that forfeited this spectral wavelength range from approximately 100 - 120 nm. 

The outcomes of the analysis will be communicated to NASA and the astrophysics community through reports to the COPAG Executive Committee, Cosmic Origins UV Science and Technology Interest Group (UV STIG), the HWO Community Science and Instrument Team (CSIT), and the HWO Technology Maturation Project Office (HTMPO). This Science Analysis Group (SAG) will produce essential input for CSIT and HTMPO deliberations on the importance of far UV sensitivity for general astrophysics goals of Habitable Worlds Observatory.

SAG Membership 

Sanchayeeta Borthakur (lead) – Arizona State UniversityHaeun Chung
Hsiao-Wen ChenChris Howk
Romeel DaveAndrew Fox
Ben OppenheimerJoe Burchett

News & Events

Meeting, conferences, seminars, workshops, and other SAG news and events.

O VI Science Analysis Group (O VI SAG)

The goals of this SAG are to analyze the status of theoretical predictions for far-UV spectral line diagnostics in simulations of galaxy evolution, and particularly the circumgalactic medium of galaxies. O VI is featured specifically because of its proximity to…

Nov 20, 2025
Topic
O VI SAG Working Group Meeting 30 Oct 2025

Session Recording

Oct 30, 2025
Topic
O VI SAG Working Group Meeting 16 Oct 2025

Session Recording

Oct 16, 2025
Topic
O VI SAG Working Group Meeting 18 Sept 2025

Session Recording

Sep 18, 2025
Topic

News Straight to Your Inbox

Subscribe to your community email news list

We will never share your email address.

Sign Up
An illustration of Sun-like star HD 181327 and its surrounding debris disk. The star is at top right. It is surrounded by a far larger debris disk that forms an incomplete ellpitical path and is cut off at right. There’s a huge cavity between the star and the disk. The debris disk is shown in shades of light gray. Toward the top and left, there are finer, more discrete points in a range of sizes. The disk appears hazier and smokier at the bottom. The star is bright white at center, with a hazy blue region around it. The background of space is black. The label Artist's Concept appears at lower left.