FLAMINGOS First Light Observing Run
KPNO 2.1-m, December 2000
The first observing runs with FLAMINGOS occurred on the
Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1-m and 4-m telescopes in early December
of 2000. These runs were made using an engineering grade 2048x2048 HgCdTe
HAWAII-2 array which was received in late August of 2000, i.e. 3 months
earlier. Images were obtained within a few minutes of opening the telescope
on the night of December 2nd.
Shipping FLAMINGOS from the University of Florida
campus in Gainesville December 29, 2000. The instrument and all support
electronics are contained in 7 metal cases, seen here in the back
of the truck. The 2.1-m and 4-m telescope interfaces are contained in the
large wooden crate.
Mounting of FLAMINGOS on the Kitt Peak National Observatory
2.1-m telescope December 1, 2000. University of Florida mechanical engineer
is pictured in the foreground. Bill Binkert and Skip Andrea of NOAO are
pictured in the background, standing on the plate form at the 2.1-m.
FLAMINGOS fully mounted and ready to go on the Kitt
Peak National Observatory 2.1-m telescope December 1, 2000.
The first light image obtained by FLAMINGOS
following focusing and pupil alignment on the 2.1-m telescope on the night
of December 2, 2000. The image shows a 2048x2048 pixel image of the Orion
Nebula. The Orion nebula, visible to the naked eye as the central "star"
in the sword of Orion, consists of a cluster of over one thousand
young stars. The stars are roughly 1 million years old and they are still
embedded in the hydrogen gas from which they formed. The hottest stars
in the cluster have ionized this hydrogen gas leading to the extended emission
surrounding the cluster. This image was obtained in the near infrared "K"
band at 2.2 microns and shows a single, 21 arc minute on a side, field
for FLAMINGOS in the 2.1-m.
Pseudo 3-color image of the Orion nebula obtained
with FLAMINGOS in the Kitt Peak 2.1-m telescope. The red image in the near
infrared "K" band a 2.2 microns, the green image is the near infrared "H"
band image at 1.6 microns and the blue image is the near infrared "J" band
at 1.25 microns. This image was stretched to show the Trapezium star cluster
near the center of the image.
Pseudo 3-color image of the Orion nebula obtained
with FLAMINGOS in the Kitt Peak 2.1-m telescope. The red image in the near
infrared "K" band a 2.2 microns, the green image is the near infrared "H"
band image at 1.6 microns and the blue image is the near infrared "J" band
at 1.25 microns. This image was stretched to show the low level emission
from ionized gas.
Mounting FLAMINGOS in the Cassigrain cage of the
Kitt Peak National Observatory 4-m telescope December 11, 2000. Bill Binkert
of NOAO rides the 4-m hydraulic lift along with FLAMINGOS into the 4-m
Cassigrain cage.
FLAMINGOS installed in the Cassigrain cage of the
Kitt Peak National Observatory 4-m telescope December 11, 2000.