Herschel Science Evolution and Results

This chapter outlines the diagnostic importance of the far-infrared and submillimetre spectral range and presents the evolution of the mission’s science objectives from the time of its original conception and goes on to describe the results and scientific achievements of Herschel. It shows how the opening of a spectral window, previously poorly studied, has changed our view of the most important components of our Universe, from galaxies and stars and the processes of their formation to planetary systems and the ‘water trail ’. The last section is a bibliometric analysis of the scientific return of Herschel and how it has interconnected the scientific community, illustrated by a new and original co-citation mapping. The quantity and quality of the data coming from Herschel during its almost 4-year observing lifetime will remain unique for a long time, casting new light on astronomical phenomena and processes never seen before.