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GHOST

Gemini SouthOptical
Last Modified: 
Tuesday, January 3, 2023 - 02:17

The Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph (GHOST) is able to capture 363-950 nm high resolution spectra (R of 50000) of two targets simultaneously, or one high resolution spectra (R of 75000) with a simultaneous calibration source by using independent 1.2" integral field units, each patrolling a hemisphere over a combined 7.5' field of view.

Unavailable For Proposals at Gemini South
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.
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Capability Summary

​Spectroscopy 

  • Total wavelength range: 363-950 nm 
  • Spectral element resolution (R) of 50,000 in standard resolution (2 IFUs simultaneously), or 75,000 at high resolution (1 IFU)
  • In precision radial velocity (PRV) mode: (R of 75,000) Simultaneous ThXe arc calibrations are taken along with science 
  • Atmosphere dispersion correction (ADCs) are provided for each IFU independently

Integral field units

  • Integral Field Unit (IFU) aperture: 1.2", which is fed sliced into the spectrograph at slit widths of around 0.4" at standard resolution, and 0.25" at high resolution
  • 2 IFUs available for science for standard resolution, and 1 IFU at high resolution
  • Field of view: 7.5' for two IFU mode, where the closest separation of the two IFUs is 100" 
  • Dedicated sky IFUs available at both resolutions for sky subtractoin

Guiding Options

  • Guided using Periferal Wavefront Sensor 2 (PWFS2) 
  • Fine guiding provided by dedicated fibres surrounding the IFU


GHOST, the Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph is the new Gemini facility instrument that provides high-resolution spectroscopic capabilities. It has a wide simultaneous wavelength coverage with high observational efficiency. It allows astronomers to investigate a broad range of science from the composition of the first stars to the characterization of exo-planetary systems. 

It consists of three primary components; a cassegrain unit mounted on the telescope, a spectrograph bench stable in the pier lab, and a fiber cable connecting the two. The on-telescope cassegrain unit contains the positioning system for the object and sky fiber IFUs. Each object IFU is equipped with mini-ADCs. 

The bench spectrograph is isolated in the telescope pier lab for image and wavelength stability. It is an echelle white-pupil design, having a blaze angle of 65°. After white-pupil collimation, the light is split at 530 nm into a blue and red arm, each provided with VPH gratings for cross dispersion. The spectra are recorded on a 4Kx4K detector for the blue spectra, and a 6Kx6K detector for the red spectra. A slit unit camera provides for object acquisition and active monitoring of the slit illumination.  The bench uses active thermal stabilization to help provide the image and wavelength stability necessary for operation efficiency and radial velocity precision.

GHOST was built by a collaboration between Australian Astronomical Optics at Macquarie University, National Research Council Herzberg of Canada, and the Australian National University. The instrument scientist is Dr. Alan McConnachie at NRC, and also led by Dr. Gordon Robertson (at AAO), and Dr. Michael Ireland (at ANU). 

Instrument Team

gs Instrument Scientist

Venu Kalari

gs Additional Support Staff
    • Pablo Prado
    • Jeong-Eun Heo
    • Roque Ruiz
    • Emily Deibert  

Email: ghost_science@noirlab.edu

International Gemini Observatory Participants

The International Gemini Observatory  provides the astronomical communities in six participant countries with state-of-the-art astronomical facilities that allocate observing time in proportion to each country's contribution. In addition to financial support, each country also contributes significant scientific and technical resources. The national research agencies that form the Gemini partnership include: the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian National Research Council (NRC), the Chilean Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), the Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, the Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI). The observatory is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.


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