Caltech Optical Observatories' OIR Instrumentation Group conceives, studies, designs, integrates, and commissions high-impact astronomical instrumentation for Caltech-accessible astronomical observatories including TMT, Keck, Gemini, Subaru, and Palomar. We also support space instrumentation development through partnerships with NASA and DoE.
The OIR group currently consists of 17 professional engineers and instrument scientists and 4 postdoctoral scholars, located on the Caltech campus in Pasadena, California.
The group is led by Dr. Richard Dekany, Associate Director, COO (626) 395-6798.
Latest News from OIR
Gattini-UV South Pole Camera (Dr. Anna Moore, PI) delivered to Amundsen-Scott Station (Jan 18, 2011)
MOSFIRE first light obtained in Caltech laboratory clean room (July 1, 2010)
First release of full PALM-3000 software delivered to Cahill PALM-3000 testbed (April 5, 2010)
Initial P1640 + CAL engineering run marks key step to integration of planet finding AO system (March 22, 2010)
Robo-AO's real-time software to be used in Pomona College’s NGS version of Robo-AO at Table Mountain (Dr. Christoph Baranec, Sub-award PI, $100,000 from NSF MRI-R^2; March 4, 2010)