ORP AO TEST PLATFORM

A Community On-sky AO TESTBENCH

Many of teh next generation astronomical instruments proposed for future 8-40m diameter telescopes rely on Adaptive Optics to achieve their scientific goals. However, access to on-sky test facilities for Adaptive Optics (AO) instrumentation development is very limited throughout Europe and this limits the instrument concepts that can be developed to the point where they are mature enough to be included within a facility instrument.

Through the ORP programme we have funds to allow members of the instrumentation community to apply for observing time using the AO test facilities installed at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos in La Palma. This continues the successful programme undertaken during the H2020 OPTICON programme.

These AO test facilities include the CANARY is an on-sky tomographic adaptive optics demonstrator installed at the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands, ESO's 'Wendelstein' Sodium Laser Guide Star, and a turbulence profiling and/or wide-field imager that can be installed on the 2.5m Isaac Newton Telescope.

Up to 10 nights of observing time on each facility is available to be shared between several projects that will be allocated by a committee representing both the ORP and ING instrumentation communities. Observations will be supported by members of the CANARY team who will be able to assist with the design, installation and operation of your experiment with CANARY.

Links

Configurations offered for details of CANARY design and performance

Application procedure including eligibility information

Contacts

Call for proposals

The first call for proposals will take place towards the end of 2021, for on-sky dates up to 2 years in advance. Please click here for further details on how to apply and eligibility information.