Spectroscopy at LCOGT
Abstract
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) is developing a world-wide network of optical telescopes dedicated to time-domain astronomy. In a few years, the network will consist of more than twenty 0.4m telescopes, about fifteen 1m telescopes, and two 2m telescopes. We are now developing spectrographs to use with this network; here we describe the performance goals and status of these instruments. Furthest along is FLOYDS, a low-resolution spectrograph that will cover 330nm - 1040 nm in one shot, using two diffraction orders. FLOYDS is intended mostly for SN classification and time-evolution studies. We will install copies of this spectrograph on each of LCOGT's 2m Faulkes telescopes, beginning with FTN early in 2012. Still in the prototype stage is MRES, a medium-resolution (R=45,000) fiber-fed cross-dispersed echelle covering 380nm-850nm. It will accept fibers from up to 3 co-located 1m telescopes, so that we can observe multiple targets at once, or gain S/N by devoting multiple telescopes to a single target. The spectrograph is designed for easy control of its light path and environment, to facilitate accurate and repeatable measurements. MRES will be used mostly for validation and study of extrasolar planets, and for time-domain studies of pulsating and magnetically active stars.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #219
- Pub Date:
- January 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AAS...21942203B