Subject: CorMASS availability at APO 3.5m
From: Ed Turner
Submitted: Mon, 10 May 2004 16:57:24 -0400 (EDT)
The CorMASS test run at the 3.5-m telescope last week was quite
successful. Sample spectra were taken of many targets that had been
suggested by nearly a dozen ARC astronomers. Mike Skrutskie
and John Wilson, the Co-PIs for CorMASS, were able to take advantage of
an easy integration to our systems, plus good skies, good seeing, and
good pointing to put CorMASS through its paces on the telescope. They
report that they were easily able to acquire spectra of 15th
magnitude objects, and that some examples of quickly reduced spectra
can be seen at http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~mfs4n/cormass_apo/ and
include:
dd ser --- an evolved star
mr ser --- a polar cataclysmic variable
ngc4151 -- AGN
ngc7027 -- a planetary nebula and our spectral calibrator
pluto -- a kuiper belt object
sdss1624 - a methane brown dwarf
wala4 -- an embedded yso
These spectra represent a small fraction of the science targets for the
run.
Mike and John have agreed to temporarily leave the CorMASS instrument
at APO, where it is being kept cold and ready to use. They have
offered its use to ARC astronomers who want to use it through the
summer, and possibly into the fall. Although many of you may have
submitted your 3rd quarter proposals, substituting CorMASS for your
present and 3rd quarter programs is a possibility you should explore
with you scheduler, if you wish to take advantage of this unanticipated
opportunity. Alternatively, or in addition, you may submit Director's
Discretionary time requests directly to me, in the standard format.
Operation of CorMASS at APO is currently only in "service" mode, or by
your being present at the telescope. Data reduction guides and
routines exist, and operational and data reduction expertise has been
developed by the site staff.
Ed Turner
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