FORCAST: A Mid-Infrared Camera for SOFIA

• Published in: Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation Vol. 7; no. 4
• Main Authors: Herter, T. L., Adams, J. D., Gull, G. E., Schoenwald, J., Keller, L. D., Pirger, B. E., Henderson, C. P., Stacey, G. J., Nikola, T., De Buizer, J. M., Vacca, W. D., Ennico, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore World Scientific Publishing Company 01.12.2018; World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte., Ltd
• Subjects: Astronomy; Field of view; Infrared astronomy; Infrared cameras; Observatories; Photometry; Space telescopes; Spatial resolution; Spectroscopy; Wavelengths; airborne; spectroscopy; mid-infrared; imaging; SOFIA (FORCAST)
• ISSN: 2251-1717; 2251-1725
• DOI: 10.1142/S2251171718400056

We describe the Faint Object infraRed CAmera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) which is presently operating as a facility instrument on the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). FORCAST provides imaging and moderate resolution spectroscopy capability over the 5–40 μ m wavelength range. In imaging mode, FORCAST has a 3.4 ′ × 3 . 2 ′ field-of-view with 0.768 ′ ′ pixels. Using grisms, FORCAST provides long-slit low-resolution ( R = 1 0 0 –300) and short-slit, cross-dispersed medium-resolution spectroscopic modes ( R = 8 0 0 –1200) over select wavelengths. Preceded by both Spitzer and Herschel, the discovery phase space for FORCAST lies in providing unique photometric bands and/or spectroscopic coverage, higher spatial resolution and exploration of the brightest sources which typically saturate space observatories.