NIRC2 Image Quality Repository

This page serves as an informal repository for collecting NIRC2 imaging results to help observers choose optimal NIRC2 settings, in particular the choice of filter, to achieve the best angular resolution with Keck AO.

In particular, since the commissioning of the Next Generation Wave Front Contoller (NGWFC) in March of 2007, there has been a general feeling that, for bright objects, comparable Strehl can be achieved, under average conditions, with H as with Kp; making the former preferable given the approximately 40 mas resolution element size, versus 50 with Kp.

This page intends to provide evidence to either support or debunk this claim. Similar observations taken before and after the upgrade are ideal.

We encourage observing teams to support any results they can share in this area. All submissions are voluntary and users of this page should not consider this to be published information that can be cited in publications.

February, 2007: As reported in KAON 489 figure 3, a bright star provided H and Kp Strehls of 0.41 and 0.62, respectively. This document also contains a before and after J-band images of a binary (figure 11).
March, 2008: This page summarizes before-and-after IQ results from data taken on extended sources.