Scientific objectives
GYES is a project of a multi fibre optical high resolution spectrograph to be fed by the prime focus of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), with a field of view of at least one square degree. It aims to perform a spectroscopic survey complementary to data expected from Gaia. The CFHT, with the highly successful prime focus wide field imagers MegaCam and WIRCam, has demonstrated that it is capable of providing a mechanically stable prime focus environment with such a field of view. We envisage a survey which may obtain spectra for about one million stars, down to 18th magnitude. We target a multiplex of 500 stars per exposure, and an efficiency to obtain a Signal to Noise Ratio of 15 in 1 hour for an 18th magnitude star. Such a Signal to Noise Ratio guarantees a measure of the radial velocity with an accuracy of 1 km/s.
Agenda
Phase A has begun from the beginning of 2010. The main milestones of the project are the following:
- January: Beginning of feasibility study
- June: Mid Term Review
- November: End of feasibility study
Funds
The phase A studies are financed by the Scientific Council of the Paris Observatory and DT-INSU from CNRS.
