The MRO 2.4-m Telescope Advanced Camera/Spectrograph (Abstract)

Volume 34 number 1 (2006)

Mark B. Vincent

Abstract

(Abstract only) The Magdalena Ridge Observatory 2.4-m Telescope facility is scheduled to see first light in September, 2006. It is currently under construction atop the Magdalena Mountains in Central New Mexico, elevation 10,612 feet. The primary science drivers for this target-of-opportunity telescope are asteroid studies and the rapid response to astrophysical transient events. The telescope’s rapid response will allow it to slew to any target and acquire data within one minute of receipt of notice. The slew rates are 10 degree per second on both axes. Planned instrumentation includes an advanced dual-channel visible, infrared camera/spectrograph to cover the wavelength range from 0.45 to 2.5 microns. In imaging mode, the fields of view are about 5.0 arcminutes. In spectroscopy mode, there are planned low- to medium-resolution prisms, R from about 100 to 1000. This telescope and instrument combination will be valuable in promptly acquiring time-resolved photometry or spectroscopy of transient events such as supernovae and gamma-ray burst afterglows. For asteroid science, this wavelength range is the one that gives the most mineralogically diagnostic information on surface compositions. This will enable us better to characterize the absorption bands and assign more accurate asteroid taxonomic classifications. Furthermore, the low resolution will require shorter exposure times, allowing for the acquisition of rotationally resolved spectra of faint asteroids. The Magdalena Ridge Observatory is funded through the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.