We are building a multi-function infrared imaging spectrograph to be used on the Perkins 1.8-m telescope situated on Anderson Mesa, near Flagstaff, Arizona in Coconino County. (The name Mimir is a figure from Germanic/Nordic mythology that was the "Keeper of the Well of Wisdom," a suitably intriguing image for the ultimate purpose of this instrument. We just hope to avoid the same fate as Odin upon drinking from the well --- he lost an eye.) This instrument is being built in a joint effort between Lowell Observatory and the Astronomy Department of Boston University. This project is funded by NASA under the Planetary Instrument Upgrade Program and NSF under the Advanced Technology and Instrumentation program. The project PI is Marc Buie and the co-PI at Boston University is Dan Clemens.
Considerable interest exists within our two institutions for an infrared instrument that can be used for projects in planetary astronomy, star formation, and extragalactic science. The baseline instrument will use a 512x512 Aladdin InSb detector (one quadrant) and will permit observations over the full sensitivy range of the detector out to 5 microns. The basic imaging mode will provide a 5 arc-minute field of view with 0.6 arc-second pixels. The spectroscopic modes will provide for low resolution (R=300-700) coverage from 0.8 to 5 microns. Some portions of this range will be made available with a cross-dispersing element to maximize spectral coverage at the expense of slit height.
| 2002 November | Commissioned for general use |
| 2002 January | First light on Perkins Telescope |
| 2001 November | Delivery of instrument to Lowell Observatory |
| 2000 December | Critical Design Review at Boston University |
| 2000 June | First year funds awarded by NSF (Y2 committed). |
| 2000 June | Second year funds awarded by NASA (Y3 committed). |
| 1999 August | First year funds awarded by NASA. |
Our Critical Design Review (CDR) is scheduled for early December, 2000.
Project Implementation Plan submitted to NSF in October, 2000.
Marc W. Buie, Lowell Observatory