Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998spie.3355..834w&link_type=abstract
Proc. SPIE Vol. 3355, p. 834-843, Optical Astronomical Instrumentation, Sandro D'Odorico; Ed.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
6
Scientific paper
Multi-object spectroscopy at the Anglo-Australian Observatory's 1.2-m UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST) is carried out with the FLAIR multi-fiber system. The FLAIR front-end feeds an optically-efficient, all-Schmidt spectrograph mounted on the dome floor. However, positioning of the 92 available fibers within the 40 sq. deg. field of the telescope is essentially a manual operation, and can take from four to six hours. Typical observations of sufficient signal-to-noise usually take much less than this (e.g. about an hour for galaxy redshifts to B approximately 17). Clearly, therefore, the system is working at well under its potential efficiency for survey-type observations where repeated reconfigurations of fibers are required. To address the imbalance between reconfiguration time and observing time, a fully-automated, off telescope, pick-place fiber-positioning system known as 6 dF has been proposed. It will allow 150 fibers to be reconfigured across a 6-degree circular field in under an hour. Three field plates will be available with a 10 - 15 minute field-plate changeover anticipated. The resulting factor of 10 improvement in observing efficiency will deliver, for the first time, an effective means of tackling major, full-hemisphere, spectroscopic surveys. An all southern sky near-infrared-selected galaxy redshift survey is one high- priority example. The estimated cost of 6 dF is $A450k. A design study has been completed and substantial funding is already in place to build the instrument over a two-year timescale.
Miziarski Stan
Parker Quentin A.
Watson Frederick G.
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