An Advanced Technology Optical Spectrograph for the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Abstract

AST-0096775 Clemens, James C. Advanced Technology Optical Spectrograph for the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) A multi-purpose imaging spectrometer is planned for the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope at Cerro Pachon, Chile. Some features are 1. All refracting instrument operating from 320 to 850 nm; 2. Five arc-minute by five arc-minute field of view with 0.146 arcsecond per pixel sampling; 3. Spectral resolution between 900 and 9,000; 4. Maximum spectral resolution of 14,000; 5. Image quality degradation of less than 0.13 arc-seconds at the field corners and 6. Spectroscopic transmittance of 65%. A full and very comprehensive observing program in stellar astrophysics, galactic astronomy and extra-galactic astronomy are scheduled. This project is co-funded from a private foundation: the Goodman Foundation. ***