The ASTRA Spectrophotometer: A July 2004 Progress Report

A cross-dispersed spectrophotometer with CCD detector and its automated 0.5-m telescope at the Fairborn Observatory, now under construction, should begin observations in 6 to 9 months. The Citadel ASTRA Telescope will be able to observe Vega the primary standard, make rapid measurements of the naked-eye stars, use 10 minutes per hour to obtain photometric measurements of the nightly extinction, and obtain high quality observations of V=10.5 mag. stars in an hour. The approximate wavelength range is 3300-9000A with a resolution of 14A in first and 7A in second order. Filter photometric magnitudes and indices will be calibrated in part for use as quality checks. Science observations for major projects such as comparisons with model atmospheres codes and for exploratory investigations should also begin in the first year. The ASTRA team realizes to deal with this potential data flood that they will need help to make the best scientific uses of the data. Thus they are interested in discussing possible collaborations. In less than a year of normal observing, all isolated stars in the Bright Star Catalog that can be observed can have their fluxes well measured. Some A Star related applications are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Poster presented at IAU Symposium 224 "The A Star Puzzle", 7-13 July 2004, Poprad, Slovaki

The ASTRA Spectrophotometer: Design and Overview

NRC publication: Ye

VLOT : A modest Canadian 20-m telescope

NRC publication: Ye

Feasibility studies to upgrade the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope site for the Next Generation Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

The Next Generation Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope is a dedicated, 10m aperture, wide-field, fiber-fed multi-object spectroscopic facility proposed as an upgrade to the existing Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea. The Next Generation Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope baseline concept assumes the new facility is built on the existing Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope telescope pier and enclosure pier and occupies the same three dimensional exterior "footprint". Three technical studies have been planned to examine the validity of these assumptions. The technical studies are executed in series as they represent technical decision points in a logical sequence. The three technical studies in succession are: 1. Telescope Pier Study - Load Capacity and Structural Interface, 2. Enclosure Fixed Base Study - Telescope and Enclosure Configuration and Load Capacity and 3. Aero- Thermal Study - Dome Thermal Seeing and Air Flow Attenuation over the Enclosure Aperture Opening. The paper outlines the baseline facility (telescope, spectrograph and enclosure) concept and the status of these studies, and discusses the proposed telescope and enclosure configuration in terms of the redevelopment assumptions. A consolidated feasibility study report will be submitted to the CFHT Board and Science Advisory Committee in the Fall of 2012, with first light for the facility aiming to be in the early 2020s. \ua9 2012 SPIE.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Gemini high-resolution optical spectrograph conceptual design

A multiplexed moderate resolution (R = 34,000) and a single object high resolution (R = 90,000) spectroscopic facility for the entire 340-950nm wavelength region has been designed for Gemini. The result is a high throughput, versatile instrument that will enable precision spectroscopy for decades to come. The extended wavelength coverage for these relatively high spectral resolutions is achieved by use of an Echelle grating with VPH cross-dispersers and for the R = 90,000 mode utilization of an image slicer. The design incorporates a fast, efficient, reliable system for acquiring targets over the7 arcmin field of Gemini. This paper outlines the science case development and requirements flow-down process that leads to the configuration of the HIA instrument and describes the overall GHOS conceptual design. In addition, this paper discusses design trades examined during the conceptual design study instrument group of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics has been commissioned by the Gemini Observatory as one of the three competing organizations to conduct a conceptual design study for a new Gemini High-Resolution Optical Spectrograph (GHOS). This paper outlines the science case development and requirements flow-down process that leads to the configuration of the HIA instrument and describes the overall GHOS conceptual design. In addition, this paper discusses design trades examined during the conceptual design study. \ua9 2012 SPIE.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Advantages of Searching for Asteroids from Low Earth Orbit: the NEOSSat Mission

Space-based observatories have several advantages over ground-based observatories in searching for asteroids and comets. In particular, the Aten and Interior to Earth\u2019s Orbit (IEO) asteroid classes may be efficiently sought at low solar elongations along the ecliptic plane. A telescope in low Earth orbit has a sufficiently long orbital baseline to determine the parallax for all Aten and IEO class asteroids discovered with this observing strategy. The Near Earth Object Space Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat) mission will launch a microsatellite to exploit this observing strategy complementing ground-based search programmes.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Advantages of searching for asteroids from low earth orbit : The NEOSSat mission

NRC publication: Ye