The Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA): Design, technical overview, and performance

Sutherland, W.; Emerson, J.; Dalton, G.; Atad-Ettedgui, E.; Beard, S.; Bennett, R.; Bezawada, N.; Born, A.; Caldwell, M.; Clark, P.; Craig, S.; Henry, D.; Jefers, P.; Little, B.; McPherson, A.; Murray, J.; Stewart, M.; Stobie, B.; Terrett, D.; Ward, K.; Whalley, M.; Woodhouse, G.

Abstract

The Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) is the 4-m wide-field survey telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory, equipped with the world’s largest near-infrared imaging camera (VISTA IR Camera, VIRCAM), with 1.65 degree diameter field of view, and 67 Mpixels giving 0.6 deg2 active pixel area, operating at wavelengths 0.8−2.3 μm. We provide a short history of the project, and an overview of the technical details of the full system including the optical design, mirrors, telescope structure, IR camera, active optics, enclosure and software. The system includes several innovative design features such as the f/1 primary mirror, thedichroic cold-baffle camera design and the sophisticated wavefront sensing system delivering closed-loop 5-axis alignment of the secondary mirror. We conclude with a summary of the delivered performance, and a short overview of the six ESO public surveys in progress on VISTA.

Citation

Sutherland, W., Emerson, J., Dalton, G., Atad-Ettedgui, E., Beard, S., Bennett, R., …Woodhouse, G. (2015). The Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA): Design, technical overview, and performance. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 575, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424973

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 15, 2014
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 30, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 30, 2015
• Journal: Astronomy and astrophysics.
• Print ISSN: 0004-6361
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-0746
• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 575
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424973
• Keywords: Telescopes, Instrumentation: photometers, Instrumentation: miscellaneous, Instrumentation: detectors.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1425690