MagAO: status and science

Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Morzinski, Katie M.
•
Close, Laird M.
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Males, Jared R.
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Hinz, Phil M.
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•
•
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Follette, Katherine B.
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•
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Vezilj, Jennifer
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•
Wu, Ya-Lin
DOI
Abstract
"MagAO" is the adaptive optics instrument at the Magellan Clay telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. MagAO has a 585-actuator adaptive secondary mirror and 1000-Hz pyramid wavefront sensor, operating on natural guide stars from R-magnitudes of -1 to 15. MagAO has been in on-sky operation for 166 nights since installation in 2012. MagAO's unique capabilities are simultaneous imaging in the visible and infrared with VisAO and Clio, excellent performance at an excellent site, and a lean operations model. Science results from MagAO include the first ground-based CCD image of an exoplanet, demonstration of the first accreting protoplanets, discovery of a new wide-orbit exoplanet, and the first empirical bolometric luminosity of an exoplanet. We describe the status, report the AO performance, and summarize the science results. New developments reported here include color corrections on red guide stars for the wavefront sensor; a new field stop stage to facilitate VisAO imaging of extended sources; and eyepiece observing at the visible-light diffraction limit of a 6.5-m telescope. We also discuss a recent hose failure that led to a glycol coolant leak, and the recovery of the adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) after this recent (Feb. 2016) incident.
Coverage
Adaptive Optics Systems V
All editors
Marchetti, Enrico; Close, Laird M.; Véran, Jean-Pierre
Series
Volume
9909
Start page
990901
Conferenece
Adaptive Optics Systems V
Conferenece place
Edinburgh, UK
Conferenece date
26 June - 1 July, 2016
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0277-786X
Ads BibCode
2016SPIE.9909E..01M
Rights
open.access
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