A number of major instrumentation projects are nearing completion. As reported elsewhere in this Newsletter, the Hydra multiple fiber spectrograph is presently being commissioned at the RC focus of the Blanco 4-m Telescope. Many components of the system, including the corrector-ADC, the bench spectrograph, comparison lamps, and much software, were supplied by CTIO. Initially our Loral 3K CCD and blue Air Schmidt camera will be used, to be replaced during 1999 with a 2K × 4K format CCD and a Folded Schmidt camera.
Also at this time final tests and installation of a new servo system for the 4-m drives is taking place. The new system, the same as that chosen by Gemini, will provide much needed reliability and ease of tuning. Other telescoperelated projects include an upgrade for the F/14 tip-tilt system. Although in regular use, enhancements to both hardware and software, and installation of a higher-QE CCD, are expected to provide improved image quality and a fainter limiting magnitude.
Another major new instrument, the Mosaic II imager, is scheduled to be commissioned in mid-1999. Prior to this time, modifications will be made to the Blanco prime focus cage and pedestal. Construction of the ARCON controller for the Mosaic is near completion, and the instrument itself, built by NOAO-Tucson, has been delivered. The eight SITe 2K × 4K CCDs are scheduled to be installed in the dewar next April, followed by system testing involving both CTIO and NOAO-Tucson personnel.
The third new 4-m instrument is OSIRIS, the Ohio State University Imaging Spectrometer, expected to be re-commissioned early in 1999. CTIO is providing a 1K HgCdTe "Hawaii" array, and is supporting building of a new focal plane assembly and telescope interface.
Significant manpower is being provided to the SOAR project, mainly in the software area. A proposal has been submitted to build a high resolution CCD imager for SOAR. This project is expected to consume significant ETS resources over the next couple of years, in common with a project to build a wide-field IR imager for the Blanco f/8 sideport.
Finally, visitors should notice a considerable improvement in computer power, both at the telescopes and in La Serena, over the next few months as computers are upgraded. In addition, the Tololo ethernet is being improved.
Alistair Walker, chairACTR (awalker@noao.edu)