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A Two-Channel Focal Reducer for Small (Diameter ≥ 1 M) F/8 Telescopes

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Abstract

The new Two-Channel Focal Reducer of the Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie is described. The instrument is primarily designed for astronomical imaging of solar system objects, where, because of changes in time scales of about 10-30 min not only the photon flux but also the total number of photons is limited. Colour dividers allow to split the light of the object into a "blue" and a "red" channel. Both channels are observed simultaneously with two separate CCD cameras. Besides wide-band imaging with filters derived from the Gunn photometric system, the instrument allows simultaneous determination of polarization and colour in a small field and imaging with interference filters and with a tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer. One Fabry-Perot system serves both channels. Proper selection of the interference order allows simultaneous observing in narrow bands of about 3 Å width for a large number of wavelength pairs. There is also a coronagraph mode with Lyot stops in both channels which allows observations of the torus associated with Jupiter's satellite Io. Long-slit two-channel spectroscopy will be possible as soon as the necessary grating prisms will have been acquired.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institute for Aeronomy, Postfach 20, D-37189, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

    Klaus Jockers

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  1. Klaus Jockers
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Jockers, K. A Two-Channel Focal Reducer for Small (Diameter ≥ 1 M) F/8 Telescopes. Experimental Astronomy 7, 305–318 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007981018901

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