The Indian Spectroscopic and Imaging Space Telescope (INSIST) is a UV-optical 1m class space telescope expected to produce high-quality imaging and moderate-resolution spectra of astronomical sources. A Digital Micro-Mirror Device (DMD) will be used in front of the onboard multi-object spectrograph for sampling light coming from astronomical sources of interest in the light path. The role of DMD here is similar to the slit mask used in the conventional spectrographs. DMD comprises tiny mirror-lets arranged in the form of pixels that can be flipped between two pre-defined positions by applying digital signals. By selecting the appropriate pixels on the DMD, the required slit mask shape can be configured. The DMD controller will transfer the slit mask pattern to the DMD device. The controller will be interfacing with imaging electronics to get the information about the required mirror lets to be flipped to form a slit mask pattern. The controller will also send telemetry data to an onboard computer to monitor health. This controller can also be used for ground-based astronomy with minor interface modifications.
To cater the need of growing astronomical community of India, there is a proposal to install 10-12m size optical-NIR telescope, equipped with state of the art back-end instruments . A telescope of this size is possible only, when primary mirror is made of smaller mirror segments. In order to get acquainted with segmented mirror telescope technology, at Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bangalore, we have initiated a project to develop a small prototype telescope made of small mirror segments. The proposed prototype telescope will use seven hexagonal mirrors, which will be supported by simple mirror support assembly and driven by indigenously developed voice coil based actuators. We also plan to make use of in-house developed inexpensive inductive edge sensor, which can precisely sense inter-segment relative displacement. The telescope mount is supposed to be Alt-Az and secondary mirror will be supported by trusses made of steel. The primary axes like elevation, azimuth and field de-rotator will be driven by direct drive motors. Though the primary objective of this telescope is to demonstrate the segmented mirror technology, however, we have designed the telescope in such way that it can also be used to a few dedicated science cases. The telescope is planned to be installed at Hanle, Ladakh India which is also a potential site for India's large telescope project. In this paper, we will present the progress made in opto-mechanical design as well development of other sub-systems required for the PSMT. The prototyping effort is one step toward realization of a large telescope in India and it is expected to be completed in two years period.
Hanle echelle spectrograph (HESP) is a high resolution, bench mounted, fiber-fed spectrograph at visible wavelengths. The instrument was recently installed at the 2m Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT), located at Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), Hanle at an altitude of 4500m. The telescope and the spectrograph are operated remotely from Bangalore,(∼ 3200km from Hanle), through a dedicated satellite link. HESP was designed and built by Kiwi Star Optics, Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand. The spectrograph has two spectral resolution modes (R=30000 and 60000). The low resolution mode uses a 100 micron fiber as a input slit and the high resolution mode is achieved using an image slicer. An R2 echelle grating, along with two cross dispersing prisms provide a continuous wavelength coverage between 350-1000nm. The spectrograph is enclosed in a thermally controlled environment and provides a stability of 200m/s during a night. A simultaneous thorium-argon calibration provides a radial velocity precision of 20m/s. Here, we present a design overview, performance and commissioning of the spectrograph.
Annapurni Subramaniam, Shyam Tandon, John Hutchings, Swarna Ghosh, Koshy George, V. Girish, P. U. Kamath, S. Kathiravan, Amit Kumar, J. Paul Lancelot, P. K. Mahesh, Rekhesh Mohan, Jayant Murthy, S. Nagabhushana, Ashok Pati, Joe Postma, N. Kameswara Rao, Kasiviswanathan Sankarasubramanian, P. Sreekumar, S. Sriram, Chelliah Stalin, Firoza Sutaria, Yuvraj Harsha Sreedhar, Indrajit Barve, Chayan Mondal, Snehalate Sahu
We present the in-orbit performance and the first results from the ultra-violet Imaging telescope (UVIT) on ASTROSAT. UVIT consists of two identical 38cm coaligned telescopes, one for the FUV channel (130-180nm) and the other for the NUV (200-300nm) and VIS (320-550nm) channels, with a field of view of 28 arcmin. The FUV and the NUV detectors are operated in the high gain photon counting mode whereas the VIS detector is operated in the low gain integration mode. The FUV and NUV channels have filters and gratings, whereas the VIS channel has filters. The ASTROSAT was launched on 28th September 2015. The performance verification of UVIT was carried out after the opening of the UVIT doors on 30th November 2015, till the end of March 2016 within the allotted time of 50 days for calibration. All the on-board systems were found to be working satisfactorily. During the PV phase, the UVIT observed several calibration sources to characterise the instrument and a few objects to demonstrate the capability of the UVIT. The resolution of the UVIT was found to be about 1.4 - 1.7 arcsec in the FUV and NUV. The sensitivity in various filters were calibrated using standard stars (white dwarfs), to estimate the zero-point magnitudes as well as the flux conversion factor. The gratings were also calibrated to estimate their resolution as well as effective area. The sensitivity of the filters were found to be reduced up to 15% with respect to the ground calibrations. The sensitivity variation is monitored on a monthly basis. At the end of the PV phase, the instrument calibration is almost complete and the remaining calibrations will be completed by September 2016. UVIT is all set to roll out science results with its imaging capability with good resolution and large field of view, capability to sample the UV spectral region using different filters and capability to perform variability studies in the UV.
ASTROSAT is India’s first astronomy satellite that will carry an array of instruments capable of simultaneous observations in a broad range of wavelengths: from the visible, near ultraviolet (NUV), far-UV (FUV), soft X-rays to hard X-rays. There will be five principal scientific payloads aboard the satellite: (i) a Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), (ii) three Large Area Xenon Proportional Counters (LAXPCs), (iii) a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager (CZTI), (iv) two Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescopes (UVITs) one for visible and near-UV channels and another for far-UV, and (v) three Scanning Sky Monitors (SSMs). It will also carry a charged particle monitor (CPM). Almost all the instruments have qualified and their flight models are currently in different stages of integration into the satellite structure in ISRO Satellite Centre. ASTROSAT is due to be launched by India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the first half of 2015 in a circular 600 km orbit with inclination of ~6 degrees, from Sriharikota launching station on the east coast of India. A brief description of the design, construction, capabilities and scientific objectives of all the main scientific payloads is presented here. A few examples of the simulated observations with ASTROSAT and plans to utilize the satellite nationally and internationally are also presented.
Amit Kumar, S. Ghosh, P. Kamath, Joe Postma, S. Kathiravan, P. Mahesh, S. Nagbhushana, K. Navalgund, N. Rajkumar, M. Rao, K. Sarma, S. Sriram, C. Stalin, S. Tandon
Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope on ASTROSAT Satellite mission is a suite of Far Ultra Violet (FUV; 130 - 180 nm), Near Ultra Violet (NUV; 200 - 300 nm) and Visible band (VIS; 320-550nm) imagers. ASTROSAT is a first multi wavelength mission of INDIA. UVIT will image the selected regions of the sky simultaneously in three channels & observe young stars, galaxies, bright UV Sources. FOV in each of the 3 channels is ~ 28 arc-minute. Targeted angular resolution in the resulting UV images is better than 1.8 arc-second (better than 2.0 arc-second for the visible channel). Two identical co-aligned telescopes (T1, T2) of Ritchey-Chretien configuration (Primary mirror of ~375 mm diameter) collect the celestial radiation and feed to the detector system via a selectable filter on a filter wheel mechanism; gratings are available in the filter wheels of FUV and NUV channels for slit-less low resolution spectroscopy. The detector system for each of the 3 channels is generically identical. One telescope images in the FUV channel, and other images in NUV and VIS channels. One time open-able mechanical cover on each telescope also works as Sun-shield after deployment. We will present the optical tests and calibrations done on the two telescopes. Results on vibrations test and thermo-vacuum tests on the engineering model will also be presented.
The Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope on ASTROSAT Satellite mission is a suite of Far Ultra Violet (FUV: 130 - 180
nm), Near Ultra Violet (NUV: 200 - 300 nm) and Visible band (VIS: 320-550nm) imagers. ASTROSAT is the multi-wavelength
mission of ISRO. UVIT will image the sky simultaneously in three channels with a field of view diameter of
~ 28 arcminutes and an angular resolution < 1.8". Two identical co-aligned telescopes (T1, T2) of Ritchey-Chretien
configuration (Primary mirror of ~375 mm diameter) collect the celestial radiation and feed the detector systems via a
selectable filter on a filter wheel mechanism; gratings are available in the filter wheels of FUV and NUV channels for
slitless low-resolution spectroscopy. The photon-counting detector system for each of the 3 channels is generically
identical. One of the telescopes images in the FUV channel, while the other images in NUV and VIS channels via a
beamsplitter. Images from the VIS channel are principally used for measuring drift, used in construction of images on the
ground by shift and add, and to reconstruct absolute aspect of the images. Adequate baffling has been provided for
reducing the scattered background from the Sun, earth albedo and other bright objects. The one-time opening mechanical
cover on each telescope also works as a Sun-shield after deployment.
We will present the overall (mechanical, optical and electrical) design of the payload.
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