Daily Image
04-08-2014
MATISSE N-band shipped to Nice
| Submitter: | Felix Bettonvil |
| Description: | The NOVA Optical Infrared instrumentation group at ASTRON is responsible for the two Cold Optics Benches (COB) of MATISSE. Last week the N-band COB was delivered to Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur in Nice (France). This milestone marks the start of the full integration and overall test of MATISSE. MATISSE is an instrument that is designed to coherently combine the light from up to four optical telescopes of ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile. It operates in the in the 2.8-5 and 8-13 micrometer wavelength bands, at spectral resolutions between 30 and 5000. MATISSE is extremely well-suited for the study of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs), extra-solar planets and Active galactic nuclei (AGNs), asymptotic giant branch stars (AGBs) and planetary nebulae. In Nice, the COB was unpacked and the transport verification was carried out. We can conclude that all went very well and that the COB is in excellent shape. Mechanisms, wiring and sensors were verified on proper functioning, images were taken with the technical camera, and no evidence of misalignment in the optics was found. The integration team continued with mounting the COB into the cryostat, after which the instrument was moved from the assembly hall towards the MATISSE lab. This delicate operation was also successful. The picture shows the cryostat just after it arrived in its transport lorry at its location in front of the Warm Optics Bench. From left to right: Pierre Antonelli (OCA), Marcus Mellein (MPIA), Sylvie Robbe-Dubois (OCA) and Felix Bettonvil (NOVA). |
| Copyright: | NOVA Optical Infrared Instrumentation group at ASTRON |
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