Kenneth Chambers and the Pan-STARRS Team (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii)
Keywords: Pan-STARRS
Abstract:
The Pan-STARRS Telescope No. 1 (PS1) is a prototype telescope for a large optical synoptic survey telescope system; the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System. PS1 is a 1.8m wide field telescope with a 7 square degree field of view and an unprecedented 1.4 Gigapixel Camera located on the summit of Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii. PS1 will be able to scan the entire visible sky to approximately 23rd magnitude in less than a week, and this unique combination of sensitivity and cadence will open up many new possibilities in time domain astronomy and address a wide range of astrophysical problems in the Solar System, the Galaxy, and the Universe. A description of the PS1 capabilities, science drivers, and the PS1 Science Reference Mission will be presented. The main goals of the Reference Mission are a 5 bandpass (grizy) 3? steradian photometric and astrometric survey, a 5 bandpass ~50 square degree medium deep survey, and a single wide band (w=g+r+i) ecliptic plane survey primarily for Solar System studies and Near Earth Asteroids.
Date of Conference: September 10-14, 2006
Track: Pan-STARRS