Abstracts, Galactic Center Workshop '98
ABSTRACT

Mid-Infrared Observations of Sgr A West from Keck

Cotera, A. 1,4; Ghez, A. 2; Stolovy, S.1; Werner, M. W.3; Morris, M. 2; Becklin, E. 2

1 Steward Observatory, University of Arizona; 2 University of California Los Angeles; 3 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech; 4 SETI

ABSTRACT: Images of Sgr A West at 8.7 micron , 12.5 micron , 20.8 micron and 24.5 micron were taken on 13 and 15 March 1998, and 15 June 1998 at the Keck 10m telescope with the mid-infrared camera MIRLIN. MIRLIN uses a 128 X 128 Si:As BIB (hi-flux) detector with a scale at Keck of 0.138 ''/pixel. The images are diffraction limited at 24.5 micron and near diffraction limited at 8.7 micron with the seeing FWHM~0.15'' at 8.7 micron . The images will be presented and a limit on the flux at the position of Sgr A* will be calculated at all wavelengths. In addition, the images will be used to investigate the color temperature and dust density distribution within the field.

LINKS: Program, Author, cotera@ipac.caltech.edu