Development of a Wide-Field, Near-Infrared Camera for the Wyoming Infrared Observatory

University Of Wyoming, Laramie WY

Investigators

Abstract

AST-0421507 -- Pierce, U. Wyoming A modern, near-infrared camera for the University of Wyoming Infrared Observatory will be built. The Wyoming Wide-Field Camera will be based around a 2048x2048 Hawaii-2 HgCdTe detector and will include a prime focus corrector and two cryogenic 5-position filter wheels. The camera will be placed at the f/2.1 prime focus of the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3-m telescope and will produce a plate scale of 0.76 arcsec/pixel and a field of view of 26 arc min. The instrument will play a leading role in the newly restructured graduate and undergraduate astronomy programs at the University of Wyoming and boost the science and technology infrastructure in the Wyoming region.