FLAMINGOS I Performance and Use |
Status and availability: | FLAMINGOS I has been loaned to Gemini by the University of Florida. In semester 2002B it will be available in service observing mode only, on Gemini South. For target RA constraints see the instrument calendar. |
Modes of operation: | FLAMINGOS I will have the following modes available
in 2002B:
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Elements of FLAMINGOS I | Specific elements of FLAMINGOS I include:
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Sensitivity: | Preliminary sensitivity tables for imaging
and
spectroscopy are available.
The estimated image quality delivered to the instrument is given as part of the observing condition constraints. |
Observing overheads: | Current estimates are that the overheads
associated with each new science target (for target acquisition, telescope,
WFS and instrument re-configuration etc) total 15 min for imaging and 30
min for spectroscopy. For exposure times of 60 sec or greater the approximate
on-source efficiency is 70% (i.e. 30% of the elapsed time is used for
telescope offsetting, WFS re-acquisition, detector readout etc). If shorter
individual exposure times are required to avoid saturation of bright objects
the on-source efficiency will be reduced. Assume 50% efficiency for
individual exposure times less than 30 seconds.
These overheads should be included in the time requested for each observation. Note that mosaicing multiple FLAMINGOS fields may require additional overheads, as it is in most cases not possible to use the same guide star at multiple pointings and avoid significant vignetting. Therefore the 15 minute overhead for WFS reconfiguration will be incurred for each pointing. Please factor this additional overhead into the time justification. |
Calibration: |
A basic calibration set will be obtained for each observation.
Information, catalogues, and search engines for photometric and spectroscopic standard stars are available. |
Target Acquisition: | See the generic target acquisition scenarios |
Last update February 14, 2002; Michael Ledlow