Concept:

In 2005, a collaboration from MIT and Williams College developed a set of instruments called POETS (Portable Occultation, Eclipse, and Transit System). POETS consist of a high-speed, visible wavelength camera (Andor iXon), an accurate GPS, a control computer, and other associated components. They fit into two carry-on pieces of luggage to faciliate transport and usage on telescopes around the world.

We have recently received additional funding from NASA's Planetary Astronomy program to develop a dedicated POETS for use at NASA's 3-m IRTF (InfraRed Telescope Facility) on Mauna Kea, HI. The primary science motivation for this enterprise is the observation of stellar occultations by small bodies in the outer solar system.

We plan to mount POETS on a side-facing exit window of SpeX, currently a facility instruments on the IRTF. Since SpeX is a 0.8-5.4 micron imager and spectrograph with a high-speed mode, this mounting scheme is ideal for simultaneous observations over visible and near-IR wavelengths. The telescope-camera interface module will contain reducing optics and a filter wheel, allowing greater collection of light in a shorter integration time and filter selection for signal-to-noise ratio optimization and study of objects at particular wavelengths.

This project is currently based on the existing POETS. Future work plans include modifications to the software to allow control from IRTF computers and conversion from a principle investigator to a facility instrument.

Cast of characters:

Amanda Gulbis (MIT) – PI

Jim Elliot (MIT) – Co-I

Bobby Bus (IRTF) – Collaborator

John Rayner (IRTF) – Optical design

Vern Stahlberger (IRTF) – Mounting box design

Alan Tokunaga (IRTF) – IRTF Divison Chief