ALTAIR with Natural Guide Star (NGS) or Laser Guide Star (LGS) is available with NIRI for imaging and spectroscopy, subject to the limitations below, and with NIFS for IFU spectroscopy and coronography.

NIRI can be used at f/32 (22" fov) with ALTAIR for imaging and spectroscopy through all of the 1-2.5um filters, and also for imaging point sources at L'. NIRI's three f/32 grisms collectively cover most of the 1.0-2.5um region.

NIRI at f/14 (50" fov) also is available with ALTAIR for wider field imaging in all of the 1-2.5um filters (but not at L');. Use of ALTAIR's field lens at f/14 provides more uniform Strehl ratios across the field.


Old News

22 Feb 2007
Altair update - The Laser Guide Star system is now commissioned for science.

05 Sep 2006
Altair update - current status of Altair LGS re-engineering and re-commissioning.

17 May 2006
Altair update - summary of the April and May 2006 LGS technical commissioning completion; call for proposals for LGS systems verification announced.

31 Aug 2005
Altair Field Lens Prototype now available! This will be available starting in 2006A and provides dramatic improvements in Strehl out to 25 arcseconds from the guide star.

28 June 2004
Altair update - summary of the June 2004 Altair spectroscopy System Verification run

22 August 2003
Altair update - summary of the August 2003 commissioning run

1 July 2003
Altair update - summary of the April/May 2003 commissioning runs

1 February 2003 (updated 3 Mar 2003)
Altair update - summary of the November/December 2002 commissioning runs