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NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF)
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Alan Tokunaga
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Current status
• The IRTF is operated by the University of Hawaii under a a 5-year contract with NASA.
• 50% of the IRTF time is for solar system researchand 50% is for astrophysics.
• We typically get about 50 proposals each semester from the planetary community. – Many proposals are for partial nights and for multiple
observing periods. – Most of our observers do their observations remotely
from locations of their choice.
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Uniqueness for NASA Missions and Planetary Astronomy:
• A dedicated facility for planetary astronomers.• Timely ground-based observations in support of
planetary missions.• Training students and a platform for new instruments.
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Uniqueness for NASA Missions and Planetary Astronomy:
A dedicated facility for planetary astronomers.
• Priority for time critical planetary observations:
• Required solar phase angle, specific planetary features, new comets, new Near-Earth Objects, occultations, daytime observations of comets and planets.
• Unexpected mission requirements.
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Observations of an NEO with a shape model from radar observations. The observations are obtained at specific phase angles. Howell et al.
Flexible scheduling and remote observing:
• Observing periods as short as 1 hour.• Multiple short observations possible with remote observing.• Unique instruments:
SpeX/MORIS – Low-to-moderate spectral resolution for 0.8-5 µm with simultaneous visible imager.
iSHELL – R=70,000 spectral resolution at 1.2-5.3 µm.TEXES – R=100,000 spectral resolution at 8-25 µm.MIRSI – 8-25 µm camera, available 2017B. Upgrade with
closed-cycle cooler and CCD camera.
http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/Facility/ 7
Uniqueness for NASA Missions and Planetary Astronomy:
Timely ground-based observations in support of planetary missions.
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SpeX images in support of Juno
Image from Glenn Orton showing an image of Jupiter obtained with SpeX at 5 mic compared to observations made by the Microwave Radiometer on Juno.
Observations were made on Aug. 27 in the daytime when Jupiter was about 20 degrees from the sun.
10/20/16 9Observations of Jupiter during Juno perijove, Aug. 2016
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Insert photo of remote observing from DPSObservations of Jupiter during Juno perijove, Oct. 19, 2016
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North Tropical Belt disturbance observed Oct. 19, 2016 by Orton et al. Observations made in the methane band so bright clouds are at high altitude.
NEO observations rapid responseMoskovitz et al.
• Pluto obs.
• NEO flyby
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CO band
N band2
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Uniqueness for NASA Missions and Planetary Astronomy:
Training students and a platform for new instruments.
• Classical observing and visitor instruments welcomed. Remote observing expands opportunity for training students.
• Unique visitor instruments include TEXES and BASS and are available for use by the community with PI approval.
For example remot observations have been a good teaching tool for Caltech SURF, NASA USRP and JPL SIRI students.
Below: planning, obtaining and analyzing IRTF data.
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Distribution of Allocated Observing Time (2016B)
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iSHELL, R=70,000
SpeX, R=250-2,500
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K-band spectrum taken with iSHELL during commissioning
Spectrum of bright star taken with iSHELL showing orders 223-226 and comparison to SpeX.
Staff at the IRTF
They keep the telescope and instruments running.
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http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/
Poster 123.39
John Rayner, Bobby Bus, Alan Tokunaga
Proposals due:
01 April, 01 October
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