Editing WIYN Observatory

{{Short description|Observatory in Pima County, Arizona}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox Telescope}}
The '''WIYN Observatory''' is owned and operated by the [[WIYN Consortium]]. Its 3.5-[[Metre|meter]] [[telescope]] is the second largest optical telescope at [[Kitt Peak National Observatory]] in [[Arizona]]. Most of the capital costs for the [[observatory]] were provided by the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University]], and [[Yale University]], while the [[National Optical Astronomy Observatory]] (NOAO) provides most of the operating services. The NOAO is an institution of the [[United States]]; it is the national optical observatory program and supports a collection of ground-based telescopes at Kitt Peak (where WIYN is located) as well as other locations.

== Telescope ==
WIYN is a [[Ritchey–Chrétien telescope]] with an [[Altazimuth mount|altitude-azimuth mount]]. The lightweight borosilicate primary mirror has a diameter of 3.49885 m (137.75") and was manufactured at the [[Steward Observatory|Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Johns|first1=Matthew W.|last2=Blanco|first2=Daniel R.|editor-first1=Larry M. |editor-last1=Stepp |date=1994-06-01|title=WIYN 3.5-meter telescope project|url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/2199/0000/WIYN-35-meter-telescope-project/10.1117/12.176153.short|journal=Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes V|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=2199|pages=2–9|doi=10.1117/12.176153|bibcode=1994SPIE.2199....2J|s2cid=109482491|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WIYN 3.5m Observatory|url=https://www.wiyn.org/About/overview.html|access-date=2021-06-04|website=www.wiyn.org}}</ref> Sixty-six [[active optics]] actuators support the primary mirror.

The telescope is located in a half-[[Rhombicuboctahedron]] dome.

==Current instrumentation==

=== Hydra ===
Hydra is a multiobject [[spectrograph]] using [[fiber optics]] robotically positioned in the [[focal plane]] to allow up to 100 separate objects to be observed at a time. The light is guided to a [[spectrograph]] room under the main telescope where a [[CCD camera]] records the [[spectrum]] of each object. The [[field of view]] is approximately 1 degree. [http://www.noao.edu/wiyn/] Hydra has been operating since 1990.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Barden|first1=Samuel Charles|last2=Rudeen|first2=Andy C.|editor-first1=David L. |editor-last1=Crawford |date=1990-07-01|title=Kitt Peak National Observatory fiber actuator device|url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/1235/0000/Kitt-Peak-National-Observatory-fiber-actuator-device/10.1117/12.19136.short|journal=Instrumentation in Astronomy VII|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=1235|pages=729–735|doi=10.1117/12.19136|bibcode=1990SPIE.1235..729B |s2cid=123032688 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> It was originally located at the [[Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope]] before being moved to WIYN in 1994.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Barden|first1=Samuel Charles|last2=Armandroff|first2=Taft|last3=Muller|first3=Gary P.|last4=Rudeen|first4=Andy C.|last5=Lewis|first5=Jeff L.|last6=Groves|first6=Lee|editor-first1=David L. |editor-first2=Eric R. |editor-last1=Crawford |editor-last2=Craine |date=1994-06-01|title=Modifying Hydra for the WIYN telescope: an optimum telescope, fiber MOS combination|url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/2198/0000/Modifying-Hydra-for-the-WIYN-telescope--an-optimum-telescope/10.1117/12.176816.short|journal=Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=2198|pages=87–97|doi=10.1117/12.176816|bibcode=1994SPIE.2198...87B |s2cid=121200545 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2021, Hydra received a major upgrade to the "gripper" fiber positioning robot.

=== NEID ===
Funded by the [https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/NNExplore/ NN-EXPLORE] collaboration between [[NASA]] and the [[National Science Foundation]], the NEID spectrograph searches for extra-solar planets by looking for minute variations in the radial velocity of the host star caused by the orbiting planet(s).<ref>{{Cite web|title=A WIYN-win partnership|url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/20180604-wiyn-win|access-date=2021-06-04|website=The Planetary Society|language=en}}</ref> The extremely precise radial velocities (50 cm/s) provided by NEID will provide masses and densities for exoplanets discovered by the [[Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite|TESS space telescope]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is NEID? {{!}} The NEID Spectrograph|url=https://neid.psu.edu/what-is-neid/|access-date=2021-06-04|website=neid.psu.edu}}</ref>  The name NEID comes from the [[Tohono Oʼodham]] word for "to see."<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Instrument for WIYN: NEID {{!}} ast.noao.edu|url=http://ast.noao.edu/observing/wiyn-neid|access-date=2021-06-04|website=ast.noao.edu}}</ref>

The spectrograph was designed and built at [[Pennsylvania State University]], with the construction beginning in 2016.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Schwab|first1=C.|last2=Rakich|first2=A.|last3=Gong|first3=Q.|last4=Mahadevan|first4=S.|last5=Halverson|first5=S. P.|last6=Roy|first6=A.|last7=Terrien|first7=R. C.|last8=Robertson|first8=P. M.|last9=Hearty|first9=F. R.|last10=Levi|first10=E. I.|last11=Monson|first11=A. J.|editor-first1=Christopher J. |editor-first2=Luc |editor-first3=Hideki |editor-last1=Evans |editor-last2=Simard |editor-last3=Takami |date=2016-08-09|title=Design of NEID, an extreme precision Doppler spectrograph for WIYN|url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/9908/99087H/Design-of-NEID-an-extreme-precision-Doppler-spectrograph-for-WIYN/10.1117/12.2234411.short|journal=Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=9908|pages=99087H|doi=10.1117/12.2234411|bibcode=2016SPIE.9908E..7HS |hdl=2060/20180004146|s2cid=126123875 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> The Port Adapter portion of the instrument, which provides guiding, focus correction, [[Adaptive optics#Tip–tilt correction|fast tip-tilt correction]], and atmospheric dispersion correction to the starlight before injecting it into the optical fiber feeding the spectrograph, was built by the University of Wisconsin in collaboration with NOAO.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Logsdon|first1=Sarah E.|last2=McElwain|first2=Michael W.|last3=Gong|first3=Qian|last4=Liang|first4=Ming|last5=Santoro|first5=Fernando|last6=Schwab|first6=Christian|last7=Bender|first7=Chad|last8=Blake|first8=Cullen|last9=Halverson|first9=Samuel|last10=Hearty|first10=Fred|last11=Hunting|first11=Emily|title=Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII |chapter=The NEID precision radial velocity spectrometer: Port adapter overview, requirements, and test plan |editor-first1=Luc |editor-first2=Christopher J. |editor-first3=Hideki |editor-last1=Simard |editor-last2=Evans |editor-last3=Takami |date=2018-07-27|chapter-url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/10702/1070267/The-NEID-precision-radial-velocity-spectrometer--port-adapter-overview/10.1117/12.2312209.short|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=10702|pages=1070267|doi=10.1117/12.2312209|bibcode=2018SPIE10702E..67L |hdl=2060/20190002459|isbn=9781510619579 |s2cid=126365687 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> On June 2, 2021, NEID completed commissioning.

The NEID is also assisted by The [[Texas Advanced Computing Center]] (TACC) with super-computer time and expertise in the scientific search for new exoplanets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hunting for Alien Planets – Latest News – Texas Advanced Computing Center|url=https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/-/hunting-for-alien-planets|access-date=2021-11-09|website=www.tacc.utexas.edu}}</ref>

=== One Degree Imager (ODI) ===
[[Image:Orthogonal-transfer-array-ccd.jpg|thumb|right|ODI Sensor]]
The One Degree Imager (ODI) is the flagship of WIYN's new instrument initiatives. ODI utilizes both WIYN's one degree field of view and excellent image quality. The original design for ODI was to cover the one [[square degree]] field using a total of 64 Orthogonal Transfer Arrays (OTAs) with a total of 1 GigaPixel and a pixelscale of 0.11 arcseconds per pixel. Orthogonal transfer arrays allow to actively improve image sharpness by correcting images for tip/tilt motion during the integration.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Burke|first1=Barry E.|last2=Tonry|first2=John|last3=Cooper|first3=Michael|last4=Luppino|first4=Gerard|last5=Jacoby|first5=George|last6=Bredthauer|first6=Richard|last7=Boggs|first7=Kasey|last8=Lesser|first8=Michael|last9=Onaka|first9=Peter|last10=Young|first10=Douglas|last11=Doherty|first11=Peter|editor-first1=James D. |editor-first2=James W. |editor-last1=Garnett |editor-last2=Beletic |date=2004-09-29|title=The orthogonal-transfer array: a new CCD architecture for astronomy|url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/5499/0000/The-orthogonal-transfer-array--a-new-CCD-architecture-for/10.1117/12.562490.short|journal=Optical and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=5499|pages=185–192|doi=10.1117/12.562490|bibcode=2004SPIE.5499..185B |s2cid=34954322 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Corrections will be done over the entire field of view, making ODI a unique and competitive instrument in the era of wide-field surveys. ODI is funded by the WIYN partners and the National Science Foundation.

ODI was first commissioned in a partial or prototype configuration (pODI) using 13 OTAs in the summer of 2012, and was available for science observations since early 2013. pODI was decommissioned in late 2014 to undergo a significant upgrade. The upgraded ODI, now using 30 OTAs in a 5x6 layout was recommissioned in summer 2015 and has been available for science observations since October 2015.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Harbeck|first1=Daniel R.|last2=Lesser|first2=Mike|last3=Liu|first3=Wilson|last4=Stupak|first4=Bob|last5=George|first5=Ron|last6=Harris|first6=Ron|last7=Poczulp|first7=Gary|last8=Rajagopal|first8=Jayadev|last9=Kotulla|first9=Ralf|last10=Ouellete|first10=David|last11=Hooper|first11=Eric J.|title=Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII |chapter=The WIYN one degree imager in 2018: An extended 30-detector focal plane |editor3-first=Hideki|editor3-last=Takami|editor2-first=Christopher J|editor2-last=Evans|editor1-first=Luc|editor1-last=Simard|date=2018-07-06|chapter-url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/10702/1070229/The-WIYN-one-degree-imager-in-2018--an-extended/10.1117/12.2311528.short|publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics|volume=10702|pages=1070229|doi=10.1117/12.2311528|arxiv=1806.01913|bibcode=2018SPIE10702E..29H|isbn=9781510619579|s2cid=119078797}}</ref>

=== WIYN High Resolution InfraRed Camera (WHIRC) ===
WHIRC is a near [[infrared]] high resolution imaging camera commissioned in 2008. WHIRC was a joint project between the WIYN partners and [[Space Telescope Science Institute|STScI]]. It consists of a 2k × 2k detector providing an excellent pixel scale of 0.1"/pixel and a field of view of 200 × 200 arcsec. WHIRC can be used with the WIYN Tip/Tilt Module (WTTM) to provide exquisite high-resolution images. A large set of filters is available.

== Past (no longer available) instruments ==
=== Mini-Mosaic ===
MiniMo is a CCD consisting of two 2048 × 4096 pixel chips, with a [[field of view]] of 9.6 [[arcminutes]]. The two separate chips allow for faster readout of the image than would have been otherwise possible, as they can be read out simultaneously. [http://www.noao.edu/wiyn/]

==Governance==
The WIYN Consortium is governed by a board of directors, which includes three members of each partner institution. The board meets twice a year. The Science Steering Committee provides scientific guidance to the board and the WIYN director.

From 2000 to 2008, the WIYN director was George Jacoby, followed by Pierre Martin (2008–2010). From 2010 to 2013, Pat Knezek served as interim director. Since 2013, Eric Hooper (UW-Madison) has served as interim director.

Yale University withdrew from the WIYN consortium on April 1, 2014 and was replaced by the [[University of Missouri]] in the fall of that year. In 2015, a NASA-NSF partnership called NN-EXPLORE effectively took over NOAO's share, although NOAO still manages the operations.

==See also==
* [[List of astronomical observatories]]
* [[List of largest optical reflecting telescopes]]
* [[List of the largest optical telescopes in the contiguous United States]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.noao.edu/wiyn/ WIYN Observatory] – official site.
* [https://www.noao.edu/jacoby/abell_39.html Abell 39 image by WIYN]

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[[Category:Astronomical observatories in Arizona]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pima County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Reflecting telescopes]]
[[Category:Kitt Peak National Observatory]]