VISTA performance
Performance:
Pixel scale: 0".34 /pixel average
Best image quality achieved: 0".6 including seeing, optics and sampling
Image distortion: <15% of PSF in the corners of the field
Estimated image quality PSF of 0".51 Paranal seeing convolved by the instrument PSF of 0".51
Photometric calibration: +/- 2% RMS in respect to 2 MASS in J, H, Ks
Photometric calibration: +/- 2% internally
Sky concentration/illumination: <5% absolute, it can be characterized and corrected down to 2% RMS.
Filter set: Z, Y, J, H, Ks, NB118 - all filters are installed
Detector: Raytheon VIRGO HgCdTe arrays, sensitive over 0.84 - 2.5 micron wavelength region
high quantum efficiency, large number of hot pixels, some dead areas on detector 1
The system characterization and organization of the calibration strategy will be continued during the science verification and until the end of
Paranalization and Dry Runs phase.
Observation overheads:
Preset: approximately 120 seconds
Preset: 20 secs + (target distance)/slew-speed where slew speed is 1 deg per second
Readout: 2 secs per DIT
Write data to disk: 4 seconds per exposure
Filter change: 21 seconds to 40 seconds (depending on relative filter location)
Jitter offset: approximately 3 seconds (same guide star)
Pawprint change: 10 seconds (changed guide star)
Detailed information about VISTA and VIRCAM can be found at:
http://www.eso.org/sci/observing/policies/PublicSurveys/
http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/paranal/instruments/vista/
http://www.eso.org/sci/observing/phase2/SMGuidelines.html?instrument=VIRCAM
http://www.vista.ac.uk/index.html
Phase 2 tools (SADT and p2pp) can be downloaded from:
http://www.eso.org/sci/observing/phase2/P2PP/P2PPSurveys.html
http://www.eso.org/sci/observing/phase2/VIRCAM/SADT.html
For further help contact usd-help@eso.org