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UKIRT in the Mid-Infrared

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Thirty Years of Astronomical Discovery with UKIRT

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings ((ASSSP,volume 37))

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Abstract

The historical development of and scientific results from the mid-infrared instruments used on the UK Infrared Telescope from 1980 to 2005 are described. That near- and mid-infrared instruments (and submm photometers) were mounted on the telescope and easily available for use was a particular strength of UKIRT, which encouraged multi-wavelength and long-term monitoring programmes. The mid-infrared spectrometers UCLS and CGS3 were the most sensitive available in the world in the 1980s and 1990s and they established the spectral properties of many classes of astronomical objects. Papers describing mid-infrared measurements accounted for over 10 % of the total output from UKIRT in this period.

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Acknowledgements

The world-leading infrared astronomy at UKIRT has been developed through the dedication of numerous people in Hawaii and Edinburgh. They are too many to mention, but I am extremely grateful for the help and support received over the years from the early days in Leilani Street to the present day at the JAC in Komohana Street. UKIRT is a wonderful telescope with a fantastic staff. It still has some foibles but the scientific results and the enthusiastic atmosphere are a real testament to the excitement of our field. Thank you all.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astrophysics, Oxford University, Denys Wilkinson Building, Keble Road, Oxford, OX1 3RH, UK

    P. F. Roche

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  1. P. F. Roche
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Correspondence to P. F. Roche .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Southern Operations Center, Gemini Observatory, La Serena, Chile

    Andy Adamson

  2. Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    John Davies

  3. UKATC, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Ian Robson

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Roche, P.F. (2013). UKIRT in the Mid-Infrared. In: Adamson, A., Davies, J., Robson, I. (eds) Thirty Years of Astronomical Discovery with UKIRT. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, vol 37. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7432-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7432-2_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-7431-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7432-2

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