EFOSC2 : ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera

EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY

EFOSC2 : ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera

EFOSC2 relocation at the NTT as of Period 81!
These pages being updated for NTT. Old pages for EFOSC2 at the 3.6m are here.

General

EFOSC2, or the ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (v.2) to give its full name, is a very versatile instrument for low resolution spectroscopy and imaging. The instrument has multi mode capability including normal/polarimetric imaging/spectroscopy (several submodes in each), Multiobject spectroscopy and coronography. One can easily switch between most modes, even during a single night with little loss of observing time; this flexibility and the ease of operation make for a very efficient instrument capable of handling most observing programmes in an efficient manner.
Despite its multi mode capability the real forte of EFOSC2 is low resolution spectroscopy - it is a very efficient instrument in terms of both photons and time. A second feature of this instrument is the sensitivity of its CCD to UV photons.

EFOSC History

Documentation

Instrument Overview

The EFOSC2 Gallery

News
	A new polarization unit is available since P79; it allows to measure circular polarimetry, thanks to a quarter-lambda retarder plate (01/02/2008)
	EFOSC2 calibration plan now on-line (10/05/2006)
	A short manual of the quick-look tool for long-slit spectroscopy is now available (27/04/2006)
	Polarization: Preliminary analysis of instrument polarization shows < 0.1% at field center, and ca. 0.4% at the edge. (07/07/2005)
	New Webpage: A new webpage has been created to give a short overview on the instrument: Instrument Overview. (11/02/2005)
	New Grisms: All broken grisms have been either repaired or replaced, the last being grism #15 replaced by #17. The new efficiencies and further info can be found at the EFOSC grisms page. (19/11/2004)
	Fringing pattern determined: The fringing patterns for the filter i#705 has been determined and put on this page. (17/11/2004)
	Zero-Point monitoring page updated: The zero-points are measured in each photometric night when EFOSC is mounted. The results are stored in the EFOSC ZP-page. (13/11/2004)
	New Grism Efficiencies: System efficiencies have been measured for all available grisms. For details, see EFOSC grims page. (31/08/2004)
	Pattern in Bias Frames: A pattern of probable electronic nature is sporadically observed in Bias frames taken with binning 2x2. For details, see Pattern in Bias 2x2. (22/02/2007)
	Grism #10 decommissioned: Grism #10 (6280-8200 Å) suffered a major damage and is no longer offered. (14/06/2007)
	New VPH Grisms offered: Starting from P82 (and P81 for visitor users), two new volume-phase holographic grisms (VPHG) are offered. The blue grism (#19) covers the wavelength range from 440 um to 510 um, at a resolution of up to ~4000 with a 0.5" slit, while the red grism (#20) covers the range 605 um to 715 um at a resolution of up to 4000 with the 0.5" slit. The grisms introduce a lateral shift of the beam, so the effective field-of-view is 4' and 3.5' for the blue and red VPHGs respectively. For details, see VPH Grisms (1.9 MB). (21/02/2008)

	Please mail to ls-efosc for comments, suggestions and to report errors and inaccurate statements in the web pages and manuals.

Instrument Features
	Instrument Layout
	CCD#40
	Imaging filters
	Grisms
	Star Plates
	Polarimetric elements
	Miscellaneous elements/Issues

Instrument Performance
	CCD #40
	Grism throughput
	Helium-Argon lamp
	Image Quality
	Fringing Pattern
	Bad Pixel Mask
	Monitoring of photometric zero-points
	Grisms 2nd order contamination

Telescope Features
	Basic Parameters
	Detailed Technical Information
	Weather Condition Limits
	Image quality

Portrait of an Observing Run
	La Silla Visitor Guidlines
	Preparing for Observations
	Observing with the NTT

Observing modes
	Acquisition
	Calibration: Imaging Spectroscopy
	Science: Imaging Spectroscopy
	Miscellanea (Science OB,Standard Stars,Time Overheads)
	Multi-Object Spectroscopy (MOS)
	JP2PP Templates quick reference

Observing Tools
	Exposure time calculator
	ESO User Support Services and Tools (Standard Star Catalogues, Software support)
	EFOSC2 Observing Log Sheet
	EFOSC2 Setup Form
	Adaptor Angle Calculator
	Quick look tool for long-slit spectroscopy

Support Astronomer only (mostly old/obsolete pages for info only)
	Setup night checklist
	Zero-point monitoring procedure
	Instrument tests
	FAQ for Support Astronomer

EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY EFOSC2 : ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera

EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY

EFOSC2 : ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera