MIRSI: A Mid-Infrared Spectrometer and Imager

MIRSI (Mid-InfraRed Spectrometer and Imager) is a mid-infrared camera system with both spectroscopic and imaging capabilities. The MIRSI team developed the instrument at Boston University, with funding from the NSF and Boston University. MIRSI is currently available for use as a visiting instrument at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea. Interested parties may contact Joseph Hora (jhora@cfa.harvard.edu) for help in preparing proposals, but you can submit your proposal directly to the IRTF without contacting the MIRSI team if you wish.

The MIRSI Team is:

PI: L.K. Deutsch (deceased), James Jackson ( CfA/BU IAR )
Co-PI: J. Hora ( Harvard-Smithsonian CfA )
Team: J. Adams (Cornell )
Team: M. Kassis (Keck Telescope)

Instrument Information

Instrument description and specifications
MIRSI Observer's Guide - Guide to using MIRSI to observe at the IRTF
MIRSI Operator's Guide - handbook for setting up and operating the MIRSI hardware
MIRSI Observing log sheet - page for recording MIRSI observations
MIRSI Setup log sheet - page for recording nightly MIRSI setup information
MIRSI filters - MIRSI filter transmission scans

Data Reduction Scripts

IDL Reduction Scripts - Marc Kassis' IDL scripts for performing the chop/nod arithmetic and for removing the pattern noise from MIRSI images
MIRSI Data Reduction - Eric Volquardsen's MIRSI data reduction instructions. You must download and install the IRTF IDL data reduction library.

Sample Results

MIRSI sees first light!

MIRSI's first run at the IRTF Oct. 30 - Nov. 8, 2002

Introduction to MIRSI science

MIRSI on the IRTF

The graph below shows the number of nights per semester that MIRSI has been been scheduled to be used on the IRTF, either alone or sharing with another instrument.

Publications based on MIRSI data

The list below is not complete, but is a sample of the research performed using MIRSI data acquired at the IRTF.

``Diverse Protostellar Evolutionary States in the Young Cluster AFGL961'', Williams, Jonathan P., Mann, Rita K., Beaumont, Christopher N., Swift, Jonathan J., Adams, Joseph D., Hora, Joe, Kassis, Marc, Lada, Elizabeth A., Román-Zúñiga, Carlos G. 2009, ApJ, 699, 1300

``Spectral emissivity measurements of Mercury's surface indicate Mg- and Ca-rich mineralogy, K-spar, Na-rich plagioclase, rutile, with possible perovskite, and garnet'', Sprague, A. L., Donaldson Hanna, K. L., Kozlowski, R. W. H., Helbert, J., Maturilli, A., Warell, J. B., Hora, J. L. 2009, P&SS, 57, 364

``Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin)'', Harker, D. E., Woodward, C. E. 2009, IAU Circ., 9023, 2

``Correlative Analysis of the Interaction of a Large Red Oval with the Great Red Spot and Oval BA in May - August 2008: Local Meteorology'', Yanamandra-Fisher, P. A., Orton, G. S., Fletcher, L. N., Simon-Miller, A. 2008, Am. Geo. U., 0343, 1060

MIRSI, A Mid-Infrared Spectrometer and Imager: Performance Results from the IRTF, Kassis, Marc, Adams, Joseph D., Hora, Joseph L., Deutsch, Lynne K., Tollestrup, Eric V. 2008, PASP, 120, 127

``Semi-annual oscillations in Saturns low-latitude stratospheric temperatures'', G. S. Orton, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, B. M. Fisher, A. J. Friedson, P. D. Parrish, J. F. Nelson, A. Swenson Bauermeister, L. Fletcher, D. Y. Gezari, F. Varosi, A. T. Tokunaga, J. Caldwell, K. H. Baines, J. L. Hora, M. E. Ressler, T. Fujiyoshi, T. Fuse, H. Hagopian, T. Z. Martin, J. T. Bergstralh, C. Howett, W. F. Hoffmann, L. K. Deutsch, J. E. Van Cleve, E. Noe, J. D. Adams, M. Kassis & E. Tollestrup, 2008, Nature, 453, 196

``Depth of a strong jovian jet from a planetary-scale disturbance driven by storms'', Sánchez-Lavega, A., Orton, G. S., Hueso, R., García-Melendo, E., Pérez-Hoyos, S., Simon-Miller, A., Rojas, J. F., Gómez, J. M., Yanamandra-Fisher, P., Fletcher, L., Joels, J., Kemerer, J., Hora, J., Karkoschka, E., de Pater, I., Wong, M. H., Marcus, P. S., Pinilla-Alonso, N., Carvalho, F., Go, C., Parker, D., Salway, M., Valimberti, M., Wesley, A., Pujic, Z. 2008, Nature, 451, 437

``Mid-Infrared Photometry and Spectra of Three High Mass Protostellar Candidates at IRAS 18151-1208 and IRAS 20343+4129'', M. F. Campbell, T. K. Sridharan, H. Beuther, J. H. Lacy, J. L. Hora, Q. Zhu, M. Kassis, M. Saito, J. M. De Buizer, S. H. Fung, and L. C. Johnson 2008, ApJ, 673, 954

``Mercury'S Dark Plains West Of Caloris Basin--high Ca Clinopyroxene, Na-rich Plagioclase, Mg-rich Olivine, Tio2: Caloris Basin--k-spar, High Ca Clinopyroxene, Tio2, Na-rich Plagioclase, Hornblende And Mg- And Ca-rich Garnets'', Sprague, Ann L., Donaldson Hanna, K. L., Kozlowski, R. W. H., Helbert, J., Maturilli, A. 2008, DPS #51.03, 40, 490

``Observations of the Interaction of a Large Red Oval with the Great Red Spot and Oval BA in May-Aug 2008: Thermal Emission Properties'', Orton, Glenn S., Fletcher, L. N., Yanamandra-Fisher, P. A., Mousis, O., Van den Anck, M., Edkins, E., Line, M., Fujiyoshi, T., Fuse, T., Rogers, J., Sanchez-Lavega, A., Simon-Miller, A., Chanover, N. 2008, DPS #50.02, 40, 487

``The Continuing Evolution of the Interaction of a Large Red Oval with the Great Red Spot and Oval BA in May - August 2008: Near-Infrared Properties'', Yanamandra-Fisher, Padma A., Orton, G. S., Fletcher, L. N., Tanga, P., Cecconi, M., Adamoli, G., Irwin, P., Holt, D., Grimes, H., Edkins, E., Brookhart, M., Adamson, A. 2008, DPS #41.03, 40, 469

``Polar Lightning and Decadal-Scale Cloud Variability on Jupiter'', Baines, K. H., Simon-Miller, A. A., Orton, G. S., Weaver, H. A., Lunsford, A., Momary, T. W., Spencer, J., Cheng, A. F., Reuter, D. C., Jennings, D. E., Gladstone, G. R., Moore, J., Stern, S. A., Young, L. A., Throop, H., Yanamandra-Fisher, P., Fisher, B. M., Hora, J., Ressler, M. E. 2007, Science, 318, 226

``Mercury'S Radar Bright Region C: Mg-rich Orthopyroxene And Olivine, K-spar, Iron-free Tio2, Ca- And Mg-garnet Indicate Possible Deep Crust Or Mantle Rock Exposures'', Kozlowski, Richard W., Donaldson Hanna, K. L., Sprague, A. L., Helbert, J., Maturilli, A. 2008, DPS #39.02, 40, 466

``The 2007 Jupiter's North Temperate Belt Disturbance: I. Overview and jet stream changes'', Sanchez-Lavega, Agustin, Orton, G. S., Hueso, R., Garcia-Melendo, E., Perez-Hoyos, S., Simon-Miller, A., Rojas, J. F., Gomez, J. M., Yanamandra-Fisher, P. A., Fletcher, L., Joels, J., Kemerer, J., Hora, J., Karkoschka, E., de Pater, I., Wong, M. H., Marcus, P. S., Pinilla, N. 2007, AAS-DPS, 39, #1.04

``Mid-IR Spectral Survey of High Mass Protostellar Objects'', M. F. Campbell, T. K. Sridharan, J. L. Hora, M. Kassis, H. Beuther, R. T. Brooks, S. Fung, L. C. Johnson, J. M. De Buizer, AAS, 2006, 209, 057.02

``The Size and Albedo of Rosetta Fly-By Target 21 Lutetia from New IRTF Measurements and Thermal Modeling'', M. Mueller, A.W. Harris, S.J. Bus, J. L. Hora, M. Kassis, J. D. Adams, 2006, A&A, 447, 1153

``Mid-Infrared Emission at Photodissociation Regions in the Orion Nebula'', Kassis, M., Adams, J. D., Campbell, M. F., Deutsch, L. K., Hora, J. L., Jackson, J. M., & Tollestrup, E. V. 2006, ApJ, 637, 823

``Thermal Dust Emission from Proplyds, Unresolved Disks, and Shocks in the Orion Nebula", N. Smith, J. Bally, R. Y. Shuping, M. Morris, M. Kassis 2005, AJ, 130, 1763-1777

``Mid-Infrared Emission from the High Mass Protostar IRAS 18089-1732'', M.F. Campbell, T.K. Sridharan, J.L. Hora, M. Kassis, L.C. Johnson, S.H. Fung, H. Beuther, J.D. Adams 2005, AAS, 185.05

``Compact Mid-IR Emission from High-Mass Protostellar Candidates'', M. F. Campbell, T. K. Sridharan, H. Beuther, J. Hora, M. Kassis, J. D. Adams, S. H. Fung, 2005, IAU Symp. #227

``Surface Characteristics of Comet-Asteroid Transition Objects 944 Hidalgo and 162P/Siding Spring (2004 TU12)'',Campins, H., Licandro, J., Ziffer, J.,Fernandez, Y. R., Hora, J., Kassis, M., Pinilla-Alonso, N., 2005, DPS, 37.1602

``Albedo Distributions of Near-Earth and Intermediate Source Region Asteroids'', Tedesco, E. F., Bottke, W. F., Bus, S. J., Volquardsen, E., Cellino, A., Delbo, M., Davis, D. R., Morbidelli, A., Hora, J. L., Adams, J. D., Kassis, M., 2005, DPS, 37.1524

``Observations of Members of Very Young Asteroid Families'', Chapman, C. R., Merline, W. J., Nesvorny, D., Tamblyn, P. M., Young, E. F., 2005, DPS, 37.1505

``Long-term Temporal Studies of the Coma Grain Size Distribution and Silicate Mineralogy of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 Pre- and Post-Impact'', Wooden, D. H., Harker, D. E., Woodward, C. E., Kelley, M. S., Fernandez, Y. R., Kassis, M., Ehrenfreund, P., Pel, J.-W., Verhoeff, A., Lisse, C. M., Dello Russo, N., Tokunaga, A. T., 2005, DPS, 37.4318

``The Dust Mineralogy of Two Long-Period Comets: C/2001 Q4 (Neat) and C/2002 T7 (Linear)'', Harker, D. E., Woodward, C. E., Wooden, D. H., Kelley, M. S., 2004, AAS, 205.5612

``Saturn's Atmosphere: An Infrared Assessment Using Cassini CIRS and Earth-Based Observations'', Orton, G., Fisher, B., Yanamandra-Fisher, P., Ressler, M., Campbell, R., Kassis, M., Hora, J., Deutsch, L., Achterberg, R., Conrath, B., Swenson, A., Katz, J., Winfield, A. 2004, AAS-DPS, 36, 30.07

``The Nucleus of Comet 2P/Encke as Observed in the Fall 2003 Apparition'', Fernandez, Y. R., Lisse, C. M., Schleicher, D. G., Bus, S. J., Kassis, M., Hora, J. L., Deutsch, L. K. 2004, AAS-DPS, 36, 21.04

``Compact Mid-IR Emission from High-Mass Protostellar Candidates'', Campbell, M. F., Sridharan, T. K., Kassis, M., Hora, J. L., Deutsch, L. K., Beuther, H. 2003, AAS, 203, 94.14

``Compact Mid-IR Emission from High-Mass Protostellar Candidates'', Campbell, M. F., Kassis, M., Adams, J. D., Hora, J. L., Deutsch, L. K., 2003 AAS, 202, 2805

``Mid-Infrared Observations of the Orion Bar with MIRSI'', M. Kassis, L. Deutsch, E. Bakes, J. Hora, J. Adams, & M. Campbell, 2002, BAAS, 201 (PS version)

``MIRSI: A Mid-infrared Spectrometer and Imager'', L. Deutsch, J. Hora, J. Adams, & M. Kassis 2002, in Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, SPIE 4841, 106 (PS version)

``First Light for MIRSI'', L. Deutsch, J. Hora, M. Kassis, & J. Adams 2001, BAAS, 199, 102.10 (PS version)