the toltec camera

Now that TolTEC is installed we have the big task of characterizing its performance on the LMT and tuning it up to work as well as possible. To do this we need to perform both routine observations (pointing, focussing the telescope, etc.) as well as a series of actual science observations that are designed to test out various observing modes that TolTEC is capable of executing. These observations require an astronomical signal so that the mapmaking and instrument noise can be characterized.

The TolTEC science team collectively produced a set of commissioning proposals that describe particular observations to be made to characterize the instrument. While the proposals themselves will remain private, we are publicly listing the potential targets here so that those who may wish to apply to the LMT to observe the same targets know that this data may be taken. Note that this does not reserve these targets in any way, we are simply making this list public so that everyone is aware of what might be observed. That said, the TolTEC team will make all data products from the commissioning data public for open scientific use once the analysis has been vetted by the team for quality assurance.

The map size and depth of the commissioning observations will depend on how the commissioning activities proceed. We expect to spend only a few hours at the most on each commissioning field. Note that some of these fields are part of the legacy surveys and any data taken in commissioning will become part of the legacy survey datasets.

Here are the potential commissioning targets for Fall 2023 to Spring 2024: