Modification, Characterization, and Re commissioning of KOSMOS at the Apache Point 3.5 m

Our group at the University of Washington is currently working to upgrade the optical spectroscopic capabilities of the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) 3.5-meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO) in New Mexico. The first part of this project involves modifying the KOSMOS spectrograph. The Kitt Peak National Observatory Ohio State Multi-Object Spectrograph (KOSMOS) is a spectrograph originally built for the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) through a collaboration between Ohio State University (OSU) and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). It is now being modified and moved to the APO 3.5-m. KOSMOS is a longslit instrument that improves efficiency and brings the possibility for multi-object capabilities across 360-1000 nm. Upgrades are being made that will provide slit viewing, as well as possibilities for internal calibration. The multiple configurations of slits, filters …