|
Probing the Core of M-13 with Altair Remarkable details in the core of the globular cluster M-13 are revealed in a new image obtained with the Gemini Observatory's new Altair adaptive optics system at the Frederick C. Gillett Telescope (Gemini North) on Hawaii's Mauna Kea. The razor-sharp Gemini image is shown in the upper right of the above sequence that also includes a wide-field view of the cluster (and blow-up of the core) as imaged by the Canada-France-Hawai`i Telescope also on Mauna Kea. Below the Gemini adaptive optics image is another image for comparison that shows the same field without adaptive optics on Gemini. This non-adaptive optics image was obtained under exceptional conditions with an average "seeing" of 0.26 arcseconds (full-width half-max). Both Gemini images were obtained in the near-infrared in the H-band at a wavelength of 1.65 microns using the Gemini Near-Infrared Imager (NIRI). The images were both obtained from a stack of 18, 30-second integrations obtained on May 10, 2003. The resolution of the Altair image is 60 milli-arcseconds, which is within about 20 milli-arcseconds of the theoretical limit of the 8-meter Gemini telescopes observing in the H-band. The image has a field of view of 20 arcseconds. All images were obtained as part of ongoing commissioning work with Altair on the Gemini North Telescope with special thanks to the Altair commissioning team members from the Canadian National Research Council/Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics. M-13, or the Great Hercules Globular Cluster is estimated to contain over 100,000 stars and is located about 23,000 light-years away (about 2.2 x 1017 kilometers) from our solar system. Globular clusters like this occupy a spherical shell centered on the core of our galaxy and are thought to be some of the oldest star systems in the Universe. Blue images courtesy of Gemini Observatory. Wide-field background image of M-13 is courtesy of the Canada-France-Hawai`i Telescope/Coelum/Jean-Charles Cuillandre. |
|
|
|
| Gemini Altair adaptive optics Image of M-13 core. See caption above for image details. Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gemini Natural Seeing Image of M-13 Core. See caption above for image details. Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory. |
|
|
|
|
| Wide-Field image of M-13. Photo Courtesy of Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/Coelum/Jean-Charles Cuillandre. |
|
|
|
|
| Close-up of part of the Altair optical path showing the Deformable Mirror (left), Beam-splitter (two mirrors, center) and Gimbal Mirror (above right). | |
|
|
|
| Part of the Altair commissioning team working on Altair prior to installing it on Gemini. Glen Herriot (left), Andre Anthony (right, standing). | |
|
|
|
| The Altair nighttime commissioning team at the Gemini North control room on Mauna Kea during the latest commissioning run. Left to right, Simon Chan (Gemini), Francois Rigaut (Gemini), Jean-Pierre Veran (HIA), Glen Herriot (HIA), Jeffrey Stoesz (HIA).
Quick-Time VRTM panorama and time-lapse movie of control room during commissioning also available. |
|
|
|
|
| Wide image of the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope (Gemini North), with Altair on closest port on the Instrument Support Structure. Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory. |
|
|
|
|
|
Altair on the Instrument Support Structure of the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope (Gemini North) with person for scale. Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory. |
|
|
|
 |
Altair on the Instrument Support Structure (ISS) of the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope (Gemini North) showing the entire ISS for perspective. Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory. |
|
|
|
 |
Altair on the Instrument Support Structure (ISS) of the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope (Gemini North) showing the entire ISS and a person for perspective/scale. Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory. |
|
|
|
| Close-up of Altair on the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope (Gemini North). Photo Courtesy of Gemini Observatory. |
|
