Goodman Introduction
The Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph is comprised of one 4096x4096 Fairchid CCD. At the optical ISB Nasmyth port, the pixels subtend 0.15 arcsec on the sky. This provides a 3096 x 3096 unbinned pixels (~7.2 arcmin diameter) FOV in imaging mode and a 4096 x 1896 unbinned pixels FOV in spectroscopic mode. The long slit masks in spectroscopic mode are approximately 3.9 arcmin in length and cover ~1560 unbinned pixels, leaving enough pixels above and below the slit to obtain an estimate of the stray and scattered light.
The CCD is read by the Spectral Instruments controller through 1 amplifier. Depending on binning and the gain setting, the CCD can be read in as little as 20 seconds (1x1 fast readout) to as long as 80 seconds (1x1 slow readout) in spectroscopic mode. Please see the table given in the Goodman Overview page for a more detailed description. The data are taken via a vncviewer on the Goodman data acquisition computer (soaric4) and examined via a vncviewers on the Goodman data analysis computer (soaric7). From soaric7, one can transfer the data to their home institution using "scp".
Unbinned Goodman spectra plus overscan and header information are approximately 16 Mbytes each. A typical night produces about 2-4 Gbytes of data and easily transferred over the internet. This is the preferred method of the SOAR partners. If this is unfeasible, please contact Sean Points prior to your run so that other options can be discussed.
The two Goodman filter wheels contain space for 5 filters, plus one blank position, so that up to 10 filters can be installed in the instrument at the same time. Filters may be up to 4 inch diamter and up to 10mm thick.
Philosophy and Structure of this Manual
This manual is intended for an observer planning to use the Goodman spectrograph. It is not intended to serve as a hardware or software reference document describing the inner workings of Goodman, although some details at that level may appear to help the observer plan observing strategies. Also, we assume that the observer is already familiar with CCD cameras, spectroscopic observations, and data reductions.
The Goodman Overview is at the front of this manual. If you've read this far, and don't plan to read any further, be sure you understand the Goodman Overview pages.
Development of the Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph is a continuing process. Throughout the lifetime of the instrument, filters will be added, old ones replaced, and software enhanced. This manual represents the status as of the date on the cover page. We expect to revise the manual occasionally to include information gained during engineering runs, as well as to reflect new filters.
A Beginner's Guide to Using IRAF (IRAF Version 2.10), Jeannette Barnes, August 1993
A User's Guide to CCD Reductions with IRAF, Philip Massey, February 1997
A User's Guide to Reducing Slit Spectra with IRAF, Phil Massey, Frank Valdes, Jeannette Barnes, April 1992
Guide to the Slit Spectra Reduction Task DOSLIT, Francisco Valdes, February 1993
