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FALCON is a spectrograph and imager optimized from 330 to 1050 nm wavelengths, designed to enable astronomical research across a variety of disciplines using the 6.5 meter Magellan I Baade telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.
FALCON has three primary operational configurations:
Moderate resolution spectroscopy with full spectral coverage in every exposure: R(1.0′′ slit) = 2400 to R(0.4′ slit) = 5900
High resolution spectroscopy with full spectral coverage in two exposures: R(1.0′′ slit) = 4650 to R(0.4′′ slit) = 11650)
Imaging
The spectrograph design achieves high throughput (> 60%) by splitting the light into four spectral channels on each half of the field, for a total of eight spectral channels and a 23 × 23 arcmin field of view with a small gap in the middle. In addition to a multi-object, wide field mode, the spectrograph may be fed by a long slit for target of opportunity observing, or by an integral field unit.
A dedicated imaging channel with an 18 × 18 arcmin field of view may be used in lieu of the spectrograph and may optionally be configured for low resolution, multi-object spectroscopy using a prism stack.
FALCON will be built at Carnegie Observatories in collaboration with The University of Chicago and other academic and industrial partners.
FALCON will be built at Carnegie Observatories in collaboration with The University of Chicago and other academic and industrial partners.
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