Infrared Astronomy at Palomar Observatory
Using the Prime Focus Infrared Camera (PFIRCAM)
In a joint effort between engineers and scientists at the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology,
a near-infrared (1.0 - 2.6 microns) direct imaging system has been
developed and integrated into the Caltech Palomar Observatory
detector series; see
Palomar Observatory: 200-inch Instruments .
The camera system has been tested and operated in
a science mode at the prime-focus (f/3.3) of the Hale 5-m (200")
Telescope. The array has 256 X 256 pixels with 0.494 arcsec per
pixel scale, providing a total of 2.1' x 2.1" field of view.
Hale 200" Telescope
Some examples of the science that has been carried out
with PFIRCAM through the years is given at the end.
Current projects:
Search for cool brown dwarfs orbiting nearby stars
Search for planetary nebulae, supernova remnents and bow shocks
in the galactic center
Narrow-band (line emission) imaging of nearby galaxies,
including br-gamma, pa-beta and the iron emission lines
For Additional Information, email:
Tom Jarrett (jarrett@ipac.caltech.edu)
Nick Gautier (nick@ipac.caltech.edu)
Chas Beichman (chas@ipac.caltech.edu)
Carl Bruce (carl.f.bruce@jpl.nasa.gov)
List of Available Filters with Specs
Manual and Detail Setup Instructions
PFIRCAM Specifications and Discussion on Pixel-Response Linearity
presented at the UCLA Infrared Arrays Conference
- page 1
- page 2
Note: the UCLA paper is over 3 years old now and some of the specs
have changed; most importantly, the pixel scale is now 0.494 arcsec per pixel.
Image Gallery
Narrow band Br-Gamma (2.17 microns) image of Comet Hale-Bopp,
taken with the Hale 200" telescope March 02, 1997.
upper left panel: 2.5' X 2.5' false-color image centered on the core.
upper right panel: 2.5' X 2.5' false-color image centered on the core; log stretch.
lower left panel: Core of Comet Hale-Bopp magnified X3.
lower right panel: Core of Comet Hale-Bopp magnified X6.
Note: Southwest jet-like feature is a star trail.
- Comet Hale-Bopp 2.17 microns
Narrow band (1%) images of the planet Saturn
Irregular NGC 2537
1st image: K-band of NGC2537 "bears paw"
2nd image: Br-gamma (2.17 m) of NGC2537
3rd image: H-alpha (0.656 m) of NGC2537
- NGC2537 "bears paw"
Starburst NGC 3683
1st image: K-band of NGC3683
2nd image: Br-gamma (2.17 m)
3rd image: R band continuum (0.656 m)
- NGC3683
NGC 4800
Young Stellar Object R Mon
Planet Uranus
Ring Nebula
1st image: Fe I @ 1.3 microns
2nd image: Fe II @ 1.6 microns
3rd image: Br-gamma @ 2.17 microns
4th image: Near-Infrared Composite
- Ring Nebula
Egg Nebula
go to T. Jarrett home page
