A number of instruments are available. Brief summaries are listed below. Note that some of these are "PI instruments" which can only be used in collaboration with the instrument's principal investigator. Any investigators that wish to use these instruments must consult with the PI and obtain a letter of approval and consent which should be submitted with the proposal. Any proposal for a PI instrument that does not include such a letter will be invalid.
MMT Credit Line
All publications resulting from data collected at the MMT should carry one of the following credit lines as a footnote to the paper's title:- Observations reported here were obtained at the MMT Observatory, a joint facility of the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona.
- Observations reported here were obtained at the MMT Observatory, a joint facility of the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian Institution.
Instruments
ARIES
- 1-5 micron NIR imager and spectrograph. The imager is currently available.
- Detector: HgCdTe
- Pixels across detector: 1024x1024
- Pixel size (microns): 18.5
- Wavelength (microns): 1.1 - 2.5
- Focal Ratio: f/15, f/30
- Plate scale (arcsec/mm): 2.11, 1.06
- Field (arcsec/pixel): 0.038, 0.019
- Full field (inscribed on detector): 40.0 arcsec, 20.0 arcsec
PI: Dr. Don McCarthy, Steward Observatory
Note: ARIES is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
CLIO
- Field of View
- 16x13" (for 3-5 um Nyquest sampling)
- 9x7" (for H and K band Nyquist sampling)
- Sensitivity
- approximately 16 in L' in 5 minutes (5 sigma)
- approximately 13.5 in M in 5 minutes
- untested in H and K (contact Phil Hinz for estimates)
PI: Dr. Phil Hinz, Steward Observatory
Note: CLIO is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
Hectochelle
- Detector: Fiber-fed, multi-object, high-dispersion spectrograph using two 2048 x 4608 pixel EEV CCDs
- Pixel Size: 13.5 um
- Spectral Range: 380 nm-1100 nm
- Resolution: 32,000-40,000
- Field: 1 degree
PI: Dr. Andy Szentgyorgyi, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Note: Hectochelle is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
Hectospec
- Fiber-fed, multi-object, moderate-dispersion spectrograph using 2 butted EEV 2048 x 4608 pixel CCDs
- Pixel Size: 13.5 um
- Spectral Range: 350 nm-1000 nm
- 270 Grating
- Spectral Coverage: 4500-8700 Å
- Resolution: 5.2 Å @ 4500 Å - 4.5 Å @ 7000 Å
- R=1000
- 600 Grating
- Spectral Coverage: 5600-7500 Å
- Resolution: 2.2 Å @ 4500 Å - 1.9 Å @ 7000 Å
- R=2500
- Field: 1 degree
PI: Dr. Dan Fabricant, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Note: Hectospec is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
Megacam
- 18kx18k optical imager using 36 E2V 2048x4608x13.5 micrometer CCDs
- Field of view at f/5: 24x24 arcmin
- Pixel size: 0.08 arcsec/pixel
- Filters: Sloan ugriz
PI: Dr. Brian McLeod, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Note: Megacam is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
MIRAC3-BLINC
- Mid-Infrared Imager and Nulling Interferometer
- Rockwell 128x128 Si:As BIB array
- Sensitivity from 2 to 25 microns
- Pixel Scale and Field of View:
- 0.09 arcsec per pixel, 11.5 arcsec FOV
- A variety of filters (see link to Additional Information for details)
Note: Chopping is currently not available with the f/15. This introduces extra noise from the detector and sky. When using the MIRAC sensitivity estimator at the link above, degrade the sensitivity estimates by a factor of 2 or 3.
Note: Nulling interferometry is achievable using the BLINC system. Please contact Phil Hinz for additional information.
PI: Dr. Phil Hinz, Steward Observatory
Note: MIRAC3/BLINC is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
MMT Spectrograph
The MMT Spectrograph is a well-developed instrument that was one of the workhorses of the 4.5-m MMT. The spectrograph is actually two instruments, the Red Channel and the Blue Channel. These share a common slit assembly but cannot be used simultaneously.Extensive documentation for the Red and Blue Channels exists on line. For details, go to:
- General information on the spectrographs and support hardware
- Red Channel Information
- Blue Channel Information
SPOL
- CCD Imaging/Spectropolarimeter (SPOL)
- 20" FOV imaging polarimetry or spectropolarimetry
- 4 Å FWHM or less spectral resolution
- Sensitivity range 4000-9000 Å
- Either linear or circular polarimetry
PI: Dr. Gary Schmidt, Steward Observatory
Note: SPOL is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.
SWIRC (SAO Widefield InfraRed Camera)
- Detector: 2048 x 2048 pix, HgCdTe Hawaii-2
- Pixel Scale: 0.1500 arcsec/pix
- Field: 5.12 x 5.12 arcmin^2
- Filters: Y, J, H, and dark positions D1
PI: Dr. Warren Brown, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Note: SWIRC is a PI instrument. Any proposal to use this instrument must be in collaboration with the PI. A letter from the PI specifically confirming this collaboration must be included with the proposal.