Tag Archives: PFI

The first fiber positioner module was assembled

At the laboratory of California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA, the fiber positioner modules are being assembled by Caltech, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (USA), and Laboratorio Nacional de Astrofisica (Brazil). PFS will develop 42 fiber modules for the observation, and the spare modules. We have been assembling the first module, testing it to control the 57 actuators “Cobra” in the… Read more »

Assembly of positioner module is in progress / ファイバー配置モジュール組み立て中

PFS instrument catches light from about 2400 astronomical objects using fibers paved on the focal plane at the prime focus of the Subaru telescope, and each fiber is positioned by 2-staged actuator called “Cobra” (). As talked in the previous posts, 57 assemblies of Cobra positioners and fibers are integrated to one module, which is mounted to the optical bench…. Read more »

From the development site of Prime Focus Instrument

Let us start with a question this time: What do you think these parts are used for? There are a number of holes… They are some of the parts for Prime Focus Instrument (PFI) named as the “Cobra bench” and the “rails”, on which the fiber positioning actuators Cobra are installed (Here for details). As a picture below, one actuator… Read more »

PFI parts started coming to Taiwan

Among the PFS instrument subsystems, Prime Focus Instrument (PFI) is the one that is installed to the prime focus of the Subaru telescope. PFI accommodates various key components such as 2400 fibers and actuators to be configured onto astronomical objects, and cameras to guide the telescope and lock the instrument field of view to a target area of sky. PFI… Read more »

The PFI test stage and environment control chamber have been fully assembled.

Written by Shiang-Yu Wang (ASIAA, Taiwan) One of the PFS subsystems called Prime Focus Instrument (PFI), which will be installed to the prime focus at the Subaru telescope, comprises of a lot of different modules such as ~2400 fibers and their positioners, 6 cameras for acquisition and guide of a targeted sky field. These modules will be assembled at various… Read more »

Mass production of fiber positioners have started

PFS will accurately position 2400 fibers to stars and galaxies on the sky in the field of view of about 1.3 degree diameter and deliver spectra for such a large number of objects at one exposure. The key component of this fiber positioning process is the actuator named “Cobra”. In the previous article, we described our testing activities to characterize… Read more »