First light with RATIR: An automated 6-band optical/NIR imaging camera

Nathaniel Butler, Chris Klein, Ori Fox, Gennadiy Lotkin, Josh Bloom, J. Xavier Prochaska, Enrico RamirezRuiz, José A. De Diego, Leonid Georgiev, Jesús González, William H. Lee, Michael G. Richer, Carlos Román, Alan M. Watson, Neil Gehrels, Alexander Kutyrev, Rebecca Bernstein, Luis Carlos Alvarez, Urania Ceseña, David ClarkEnrique Colorado, Antolín Córdova, Alejandro Farah, Benjamín García, Gerardo Guisa, Joel Herrera, Francisco Lazo, Eduardo López, Esteban Luna, Benjamín Martínez, Francisco Murillo, José Manuel Murillo, Juan Manuel Núñez, M. Herlinda Pedrayes, Fernando Quirós, José Luis Ochoa, Gerardo Sierra, Harvey Moseley, David Rapchun, Frederick D. Robinson, Mathew V. Samuel, Leroy M. Sparr

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Reionization and Transients InfraRed camera (RATIR) is a simultaneous optical/NIR multi-band imaging camera which is 100% time-dedicated to the followup of Gamma-ray Bursts. The camera is mounted on the 1.5-meter Johnson telescope of the Mexican Observatorio Astronómico Nacional on Sierra San Pedro Mártir in Baja California. With rapid slew capability and autonomous interrupt capabilities, the system will image GRBs in 6 bands (i, r, Z, Y, J, and H) within minutes of receiving a satellite position, detecting optically faint afterglows in the NIR and quickly alerting the community to potential GRBs at high redshift (z>6-10). We report here on this Spring's first light observing campaign with RATIR. We summarize the instrumental characteristics, capabilities, and observing modes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGround-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
EventGround-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Duration: Jul 1 2012Jul 6 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8446
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherGround-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityAmsterdam
Period7/1/127/6/12

Keywords

  • Automatic telescopes
  • Data-taking
  • Design
  • Gamma-ray bursts
  • Infrared detectors
  • Integration
  • Software

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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