Availability of the MUSICOS echelle at the INT for Semester 97B

• The ESA-MUSICOS spectrograph was commissioned on the 2.5m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) at La Palma, and took part succesfully to the large Multi-site MUSICOS96 campaign in 15-30 November 1996.
• Based on the obtained results, we are pleased to leave the ESA-MUSICOS spectrograph at INT, at least until end of 1998, and to propose its use by the community.
• The spectrograph, used with an INT 1kx1k Tek detector (pixel 24 micron) gives the following performances:
  • spectral resolution 32000
  • multi-order coverage, giving well separated orders:
    • 380-590 nm (blue B)
    • 470-830 nm (red R)
  • Another mode of operation was also qualified 440-960 nm (blue-infrared)
  • S/N is 400 in V for one hour exposure on 7th magnitude star
• If you wish to use this spectrograph at INT for semester 97B and following, I encourage you to submit a proposal.
• You may contact me or Joana Oliveira (email: joana@so.estec.esa.nl ) for information on the instrument, performances, proposal submission, observing support and eventual collaborations with members of the MUSICOS team.
• We have a planned observing run at INT on 14-22 May 97, where some improvements and customization will be implemented.