Published July 6, 2018 | Version Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

Opening the dynamic infrared sky

  • 1. ROR icon Australian National University
  • 2. ROR icon California Institute of Technology
  • 3. ROR icon Weizmann Institute of Science
  • 4. ROR icon Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
  • 5. ROR icon UNSW Sydney
  • 6. ROR icon Columbia University
  • 7. ROR icon University of Sydney
  • 8. ROR icon Swinburne University of Technology
  • 9. ROR icon Curtin University
  • 10. ROR icon University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • 11. ROR icon University of Western Australia
  • 12. ROR icon Monash University
  • 13. ROR icon Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstract

While optical and radio transient surveys have enjoyed a renaissance over the past decade, the dynamic infrared sky remains virtually unexplored from the ground. The infrared is a powerful tool for probing transient events in dusty regions that have high optical extinction, and for detecting the coolest of stars that are bright only at these wavelengths. The fundamental roadblocks in studying the infrared time-domain have been the overwhelmingly bright sky background (250 times brighter than optical) and the narrow field-of-view of infrared cameras (largest is VISTA at 0.6 sq deg). To address these challenges, Palomar Gattini-IR is currently under construction at Palomar Observatory and we propose a further low risk, economical, and agile instrument to be located at Siding Spring Observatory, as well as further instruments which will be located at the high polar regions to take advantage of the low thermal sky emission, particularly in the 2.5 micron region.

Additional Information

© 2018 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). This research is supported by an Australian National University Future Fund and an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. We acknowledge and greatly thank the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation and our partners for their generous support of these projects as well as Palomar Observatory and Siding Spring Observatory for the opportunity to deploy the instruments at these sites.

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Additional details

Identifiers

Eprint ID
91587
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20181207-145745767

Funding

Australian National University Future Fund
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation

Dates

Created
2018-12-08
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2021-11-16
Created from EPrint's last_modified field

Caltech Custom Metadata

Caltech groups
Astronomy Department
Series Name
Proceedings of SPIE
Series Volume or Issue Number
10700