OSIRIS
Encyclopedia
OSIRIS is the name of three entirely separate astronomical
instruments. The duplication of names is coincidental, partly driven by two scientific teams trying to make acronyms using similar words.
for the Keck II telescope
in Hawaii
. As an integral field spectrograph, it can obtain many spectra simultaneously covering a small region of the sky. As such, it combines the capabilities of a traditional spectrograph
and a regular imaging camera
. The 'OH suppressing' portion of the name refers to the fact that OSIRIS has sufficient spectral resolution
that sky glow from OH
molecules can be separated and removed from the spectra of the science targets. OSIRIS covers the wavelength range from 1 to 2.5 micrometres with a spectral resolution of about 3800. Combined with the Keck laser guide star
adaptive optics
system, it can obtain diffraction-limited
observations on extremely faint targets. OSIRIS was developed by the UCLA infrared
astronomy lab under professionals. James Larkin and achieved first light
on February 22, 2005.
Day One instrument for the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC)
. Sensitive in the wavelength range from 365 through 1000 nm, OSIRIS is a multiple purpose instrument for imaging and low-resolution long slit and multiple object spectroscopy
(MOS). Imaging can be done using broad-band filters or narrow-band tunable filters with FWHM ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 nm at 365 nm, through 0.9 to 1.2 at 1000 nm. OSIRIS observing modes include also fast photometry and spectroscopy. OSIRIS field of view is of 8.5×8.5 arcminutes and the maximum nominal spectral resolution is of 5000 for a slit width of 0.6 arcsec. MOS incorporates detector charge shuffling co-ordinated with telescope nodding for an excellent sky subtraction. The use of tunable filters is a completely new feature in 8 to 10 m class telescope
s that will allow observing the very faint and distant emission line objects. The OSIRIS scientific Key Project is OTELO
.
. It was built by a consortium led by the German Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
instruments. The duplication of names is coincidental, partly driven by two scientific teams trying to make acronyms using similar words.
OH-Suppressing Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph
OSIRIS (OH-Suppressing Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph) is an integral field spectrographIntegral field spectrograph
An integral field spectrograph or a spectrograph equipped with an integral field unit is an optical instrument combining spectrographic and imaging capabilities, used to obtain spatially resolved spectra in astronomy and other fields of research such as bio-medical science and earth observation...
for the Keck II telescope
Keck telescopes
The W. M. Keck Observatory is a two-telescope astronomical observatory at an elevation of near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawai'i. The primary mirrors of each of the two telescopes are in diameter, making them the second largest optical telescopes in the world, slightly behind the Gran Telescopio...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. As an integral field spectrograph, it can obtain many spectra simultaneously covering a small region of the sky. As such, it combines the capabilities of a traditional spectrograph
Spectrograph
A spectrograph is an instrument that separates an incoming wave into a frequency spectrum. There are several kinds of machines referred to as spectrographs, depending on the precise nature of the waves...
and a regular imaging camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
. The 'OH suppressing' portion of the name refers to the fact that OSIRIS has sufficient spectral resolution
Spectral resolution
The spectral resolution of a spectrograph, or, more generally, of a frequency spectrum, is a measure of its ability to resolve features in the electromagnetic spectrum...
that sky glow from OH
Hydroxyl radical
The hydroxyl radical, •OH, is the neutral form of the hydroxide ion . Hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive and consequently short-lived; however, they form an important part of radical chemistry. Most notably hydroxyl radicals are produced from the decomposition of hydroperoxides or, in...
molecules can be separated and removed from the spectra of the science targets. OSIRIS covers the wavelength range from 1 to 2.5 micrometres with a spectral resolution of about 3800. Combined with the Keck laser guide star
Laser guide star
Laser guide stars are a form of artificial star created for use in astronomical adaptive optics imaging.Adaptive optics systems require a wavefront reference source in order to correct atmospheric distortion of light...
adaptive optics
Adaptive optics
Adaptive optics is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effect of wavefront distortions. It is used in astronomical telescopes and laser communication systems to remove the effects of atmospheric distortion, and in retinal imaging systems to reduce the...
system, it can obtain diffraction-limited
Diffraction-limited
The resolution of an optical imaging system — a microscope, telescope, or camera — can be limited by factors such as imperfections in the lenses or misalignment. However, there is a fundamental maximum to the resolution of any optical system which is due to diffraction...
observations on extremely faint targets. OSIRIS was developed by the UCLA infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
astronomy lab under professionals. James Larkin and achieved first light
First light
In astronomy, first light is the first use of a telescope to take an astronomical image after it has been constructed. This is often not the first viewing using the telescope; optical tests have likely already been performed during daylight to adjust the components...
on February 22, 2005.
Optical System for Imaging and low Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy
OSIRIS (Optical System for Imaging and low Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy) is the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Day One instrument for the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC)
Gran Telescopio Canarias
The Gran Telescopio Canarias , also known as GranTeCan or GTC, is a reflecting telescope undertaking commissioning observations at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma, in the Canary Islands of Spain, as of July 2009.Construction of the telescope, sited on a volcanic...
. Sensitive in the wavelength range from 365 through 1000 nm, OSIRIS is a multiple purpose instrument for imaging and low-resolution long slit and multiple object spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
(MOS). Imaging can be done using broad-band filters or narrow-band tunable filters with FWHM ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 nm at 365 nm, through 0.9 to 1.2 at 1000 nm. OSIRIS observing modes include also fast photometry and spectroscopy. OSIRIS field of view is of 8.5×8.5 arcminutes and the maximum nominal spectral resolution is of 5000 for a slit width of 0.6 arcsec. MOS incorporates detector charge shuffling co-ordinated with telescope nodding for an excellent sky subtraction. The use of tunable filters is a completely new feature in 8 to 10 m class telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s that will allow observing the very faint and distant emission line objects. The OSIRIS scientific Key Project is OTELO
OTELO
OTELO is an emission line object survey using OSIRIS tunable filters in selected atmospheric windows relatively free of sky emission lines. The total survey sky area is of 1 square degree distributed in different high latitude and low extinction fields with enough angular separations...
.
Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System
OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) is the main scientific imaging system on the orbiter of the ESA spacecraft RosettaRosetta (spacecraft)
Rosetta is a robotic spacecraft of the European Space Agency on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta consists of two main elements: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and will reach the comet by...
. It was built by a consortium led by the German Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research is a research institute in Astronomy/Astrophysics, located in Lindau , Germany; 20 km north east of Göttingen. The exploration of our solar system is the central theme for the scientific research done at this Institute...
.