First Observations with CORAVEL at La-Silla
Abstract
CORA VEL is a spectrometer specialized for the determination of stellar radial velocities with very high time resolution and high accuracy. The first instrument has been operational since 1977 on the 1 m Swiss telescope at the Haute-Provence Observatory where nearly 20,000 radial velocity measurements have been made by astronomers from the Geneva and Marseille Observatories. Although a preliminary report on the prototype has been given by M. Mayor (THE MESSENGER No. 8, March 1977) it seems interesting to give further information about the instrument's performance: they are exceptional both for accuracy (0.5 km S-1 or better) as weil as for highspeed acquisition (measurements in less than 5 min.) and for sensitivity (Iimiting magnitude B > 13). The efficiency of this technique was so impressive that observing programmes in the southern hemisphere far beyond the limit of classical radial velocity spectrographs could be considered. Therefore a second CORA VEL has been installed at the Cassegrain focus of the 1.54 m Danish telescope at La Silla, and observations took place in January-February 1981. The results obtained during this period are quite I remarkable.
- Publication:
-
The Messenger
- Pub Date:
- September 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981Msngr..25....6I