Gerard van Belle, Lowell Observatory
Keywords: Speckle Interferometry, Long-Baseline Optical Interferometry, Astronomy
Abstract:
We have been pursuing a comprehensive program of high-resolution imaging at Lowell Observatory, for the purpose of spatially resolved observations of faint objects at scales down to less than 1 milliarcsecond. This activity has had two principal thrusts aimed at improving both spatial resolution and sensitivity of advanced astronomical interferometric imaging techniques. First, we have been building upon our successes with on-sky operations with DSSI (Differential Speckle Survey Instrument) at Lowell’s 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT), and developing the follow-on QWSSI (Quad-camera Wavefront-sensing Six-Channel Speckle Interferometer). QWSSI simultaneously images in 4 visible and 2 near-infrared narrow bandpasses, while the remaining light feeds a high-sensitivity achromatic wavefront sensor. Second, Lowell has been implementing an upgrade of the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI), which is augmenting the telescope array with three AO-assisted 1-meter telescopes. These complementary programs of speckle and long-baseline interferometric observing at DCT and NPOI are intended to work jointly to constrain the low- and high-spatial frequency imaging information of stellar surface structure, stellar multiplicity, and other complex on-sky objects. First light activities associated with these efforts will be presented at AMOS.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2020
Track: Optical Systems Instrumentation