H.I. Teplitz, P.N. Appleton, L. Armus, C.J. Grillmair, X. Wu (SSC), V. Charmandaris, K. Uchida (Cornell), J. van Cleve (Ball Aerospace), Spitzer Science Center Team, IRS Instrument (Cornell, SSC, Rochester, Ball, NASA Ames) Team
The Spitzer Infrared Spectrometer (IRS) offers a new Peak Up Imaging (PUI) mode for the upcoming Cycle 2. PUI mode observations are taken in simultaneous 54''x81'' fields of view in the Red (22 microns) and Blue (16 micron) filters, with a pixel scale of 1.8 arcseconds per pixel. Images are diffraction limited, implying a FWHM=2 pixels at 16 microns. All PUI observations are background-limited.
We describe the use of this new mode, including observation planning and proposal preparation. We present validation observations of a variety of targets including faint extragalactic objects and imaging of an extended nearby galaxy. We discuss the sensitvity and saturation limits of this new mode. Preliminary observations suggest a 1-sigma sensitivity of 50 microJy in a 30 second exposure in the lowest background regions of the sky.
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.