Patent ID: 8066962

Claim:
An environment holding apparatus comprising: a first chamber that has an opening and holds a sample; a moving stage that is two-dimensionally moved with the first chamber being mounted thereon; and a first plane that includes an introduction port having a function of introducing gas adjusted to predetermined conditions into the first chamber from a pipe, and that is provided so as to cover the opening of the first chamber, wherein: the first plane is provided so as to be kept stationary regardless of a movement of the moving stage; and the opening of the first chamber is two-dimensionally moved along the first plane by the movement of the moving stage and the end of the wall of the first chamber forming the opening of the first chamber is positioned adjacent to the first plane, so that the opening of the first chamber is moved while being closed by the first plane and an inside of the first chamber is maintained under predetermined environment conditions; and the moving stage is moved within a range where the introduction port of the first plane is positioned within the opening of the first chamber, wherein the first plane includes an opening/shutting unit that enables the first plane to be partially opened and shut, and wherein the opening/shutting unit enables switching between a first state in which the first chamber is exposed to the external space through an opening of the first plane, a second state in which the opening of the first plane is closed, and a third state in which illumination light is introduced into the first chamber through a transparent window member.