MOONS: multi object spectroscopy for the VLT: performance of the rotating front-end

Stephen Watson; Alexandre Cabral; Isabelle Guinouard; Fernando Pedichini; Oscar Gonzalez; Steven Beard; David Lee; Chris Waring

doi:10.1117/12.3018938

19 July 2024 MOONS: multi object spectroscopy for the VLT: performance of the rotating front-end

Stephen Watson, Alexandre Cabral, Isabelle Guinouard, Fernando Pedichini, Oscar Gonzalez, Steven Beard, David Lee, Chris Waring

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X; 130962I (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018938
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Conference Poster

Abstract

MOONS is the Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph for the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). MOONS will be able to simultaneously observe ~1000 targets using individual robotic theta-phi positioners. The instrument will provide both medium and high-resolution spectral coverage across the wavelength range of 0.65 μm to 1.8 μm. In this paper we will describe the integration and testing of the fully-assembled Rotating Front End of MOONS. This incorporates the fibre positioning module, the front-end structure and the metrology, calibration and acquisition sub-systems. There will also be a discussion of system control and associated hazard analyses and safety cases. The as-built performance of the completed system will be demonstrated, including metrology-verified fibre positioning accuracy, reconfiguration efficiency, and flat-field fibre calibration performance. Finally, a summary of the successful installation of the field corrector assembly at VLT UT1 will be presented.

Citation Download Citation

Stephen Watson, Alexandre Cabral, Isabelle Guinouard, Fernando Pedichini, Oscar Gonzalez, Steven Beard, David Lee, and Chris Waring "MOONS: multi object spectroscopy for the VLT: performance of the rotating front-end", Proc. SPIE 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X, 130962I (19 July 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018938

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