ODI News Roundup: October 16, 2014

The long anticipated ODI upgrade is starting! We will add of order 12 (the final number is yet a bit uncertain) new detectors to the existing 13 detectors in the ODI focal plane. By rearranging the current detectors and adding new ones, the scientifically useful field of view of ODI will increase from the current 24' x 24' to approximately 40' by 40' on the sky. Yes, that is almost a 1 degree diagonal, so we can rightfully call our instrument the "One Degree Class Imager".

Just before Thanksgiving we will remove the ODI dewar from the telescope and, should we still be able to fit into our clean suits after Thanksgiving, work will start in the clean room to extract the focal plane. In January, the new detectors will be installed at the University of Arizona's Imaging Technology Laboratory and the upgraded focal plane will return to NOAO in early February.

Installation, dewar refurbishment, and extensive detector optimization will take us to mid May, when ODI will ship back to Kitt Peak. While the final dates are still evolving, we will schedule the installation of ODI right after Memorial Day. First light and commissioning throughput will occur in June 2015, allowing for first shared risk science data to be taken with 5x5 ODI in July 2015.

Follow us on twitter and facebook for more information as the ODI upgrade project progresses.

Last modified: 06-Jul-2022 14:00:31 MST