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First light of SOVAG, a spectrograph for visible and near-infrared observation of asteroids

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Abstract

Spectroscopy in the visible and near-infrared has been the main tool for characterising the surface properties of asteroids for decades. For a given target, the two wavelength regimes are usually acquired by different telescopes/instruments, separated by years. They are seldom obtained simultaneously. However, it is not straightforward to combine datasets from different sources because of the spectral reddening linked with phase angle. We present the first-light result of SOVAG (Spectrographe pour l’Observations dans le Visible et infrarouge proche d’Astéroïdes Géocroiseurs), a new concept of spectrograph for observing both wavelength ranges at the same time. It is compact in design and portable. We developed a prototype of this instrument between 2016 and 2018. In July 2018, we mounted SOVAG on the 1 m-telescope in Pic du Midi observatory (for which it was designed) and conducted its on-sky first light experiment. We present a spectrum of (4) Vesta which demonstrates the reliability of observations and the accuracy of the calibration. Ongoing development will allow us to push observation-limits toward fainter objects.

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Notes

  1. the angle between the Sun, the target, and the observer

  2. the composite spectrum is the most common name in the literature

  3. http://www.tng.iac.es/instruments/nics/

  4. https://www.zemax.com

  5. https://www.solidworks.com

  6. A semiconductor at room temperature with an indium-gallium-arsenide structure.

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Acknowledgements

SOVAG instrument was supported by DIM-ACAV Ile de France regional program, the CNRS/PNP national program, Paris Observatory Scientific Council, Astrochimie and ESTERS transverse programs, and the IMCCE ACME team. The authors thank Rick Binzel from MIT and Mark Rushton from AIRA for useful comments on this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS UMRO 8028, PSL Research University, 77 av Denfert Rochereau, 75014, Paris Cedex, France

    M. Birlan, F. Colas & A. Nedelcu

  2. Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, Str. Cuţitul de Argint 5, 040557, Bucharest, Romania

    M. Birlan & A. Nedelcu

  3. Shelyak Instruments, 73 rue de Chartreuse, 38420, Le Versoud, France

    F. Cochard

  4. Laboratoire de Physique de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure de Paris, PSL Research University, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France

    D. Darson & P. Morfin

  5. Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Laboratoire Lagrange, Boulevard de l’Observatoire, Université de la Côte d’Azur, 06300, Nice, France

    B. Carry

  6. Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, 38 rue Frederic Joliot Curie, 13013, Marseille, France

    P. Vernazza

  7. Laboratoire ImVIA, EA7535, 9 avenue Alain Savary 21000, Dijon, France

    J. Dubois

  8. LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, 5 Place Jules Janssen, 92192, Meudon, France

    S. Fornasier & D. Perna

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  1. M. Birlan
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  2. F. Colas
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Correspondence to M. Birlan.

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Birlan, M., Colas, F., Cochard, F. et al. First light of SOVAG, a spectrograph for visible and near-infrared observation of asteroids. Exp Astron 51, 181–192 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-020-09678-5

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