First technological steps toward opening a near-IR window at stratospheric altitudes

Fernando Pedichini; Mauro Centrone; Dario Lorenzetti; Massimiliano Mattioli; Masimo Ricci; Fabrizio Vitali

doi:10.1117/12.925362

10 October 2012 First technological steps toward opening a near-IR window at stratospheric altitudes

Fernando Pedichini, Mauro Centrone, Dario Lorenzetti, Massimiliano Mattioli, Masimo Ricci, Fabrizio Vitali

Proceedings Volume 8444, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IV; 84442Q (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925362
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The possibility to open a near-IR window at stratospheric altitude is crucial for a large variety of astronomical issues, from cosmology to the star formation processes. Up to now, one of the main issue is the role of the OH and thermal sky emission that are rising the sky background level when such observations are performed through ground based telescopes. We present the results of our technological activity aimed at affording some critical aspects typical of balloon flights. In particular, the obtained performances of prototype systems for rough and fine tracking will be illustrated. Both these systems constitute a high precision device (≤ 1 arcsec) for pointing and tracking light telescopes on board stratospheric balloons. We give the details concerning the optical and mechanical layout, as well as the detector and the control system. We demonstrate how such devices, when used at the focal plane of enough large telescopes(2-4m, F/10), may be capable to provide diffraction limited images in the near infrared bands. We have also developed a prototypal single channel photometer NISBA (Near Infrared Sky Background at Arctic pole), working in the H band (1.65 μm), able to evaluate, during a high-latitude balloon flight, how OH emission affects the sky background during the arctic night. The laboratory tests and performance on sky are presented and analyzed.

Citation Download Citation

Fernando Pedichini, Mauro Centrone, Dario Lorenzetti, Massimiliano Mattioli, Masimo Ricci, and Fabrizio Vitali "First technological steps toward opening a near-IR window at stratospheric altitudes", Proc. SPIE 8444, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IV, 84442Q (10 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925362

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
12 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Stars

Telescopes

Sensors

Signal detection

Space telescopes

Cameras

Mirrors

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years