Current status of the facility instruments at the large binocular telescope observatory

ABSTRACT

Presented here is a review of the status of facility instruments at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO). These include the prime-focus optical Large Binocular Cameras (LBCs);optical Multi-Object Double Spectrograph (MODS) for imaging and spectroscopy;and the two LBT Utility Camera in the Infrared (LUCIs) for imaging and spectroscopy, which include the commissioning of the Single conjugated adaptive Optics Upgrade for LBT (SOUL). Recently, the Potsdam Echelle Polarietric and Spectroscopic Instrument (PEPSI), a fiber-fed high resollution optical echelle spectrograph with polarimetry capabilities, has transitioned from a Principal Investigator (PI) instrument to a facility instrument. We discuss the”binocular lifestyle” including the unique challenges of using LBT in three ways Duplex mode, with identical configurations on both sides (effectively an 11.8 meter mirror);Fraternal Twin (same instruments with different configurations) or Mixed mode, (different instruments on each side) which gives observers two 8.4 meter telescopes to use;or 22.65 meters in interferometry (LBTI) mode. We also review recent changes in nighttime operations at the observatory in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and plans for the implementation of the Health and Instrument Performance plan for the Observatory (HIPO), a program to proactively monitor the health and stability of the facility instruments. © 2020 SPIE