UVIT science calibration and planning for the ASTROSAT observatory

紫外成像望远镜（UVIT）是印度和加拿大空间机构之间的一个合作项目。它预计将于2008年发射升空，完成至少5年的任务，同时发射的还有作为ASTROSAT轨道天文台一部分的x射线仪器。ASTROSAT将测量各种高能量波段的天体通量，与地面光谱波段互补。科学目标是广泛的，从单个热恒星，中子星，恒星形成区域…到活动星系核，解决关于恒星和星系演化以及宇宙学的基本问题。加拿大航天局资助了UVIT光子计数探测器的制造。由15名天文学家组成的加拿大科学小组将负责对这些探测器进行科学校准。这包括在卡尔加里大学准备校准实验室，设计和执行探测器的科学校准，将校准数据集成到印度地面系统，参与在印度的全部仪器测试，并为发射后的科学调试和早期科学观测做出贡献。此外，加拿大科学小组将参与规划UVIT和ASTROSAT上x射线仪器的科学方案，并将建立同行评审制度，以便所有加拿大科学家都能进入ASTROSAT。这项特别研究机会提案是为加拿大科学团队与UVIT的活动提供资金。这项工作将涉及一些研究生和博士后在三年的资助期内。

The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) is a collaborative project between the Indian and Canadian space agencies. It is expected to be launched in 2008, for a 5-year minimum mission, along with X-ray instruments as part of the ASTROSAT orbiting observatory.ASTROSAT will measure the flux of celestial objects in various high energy bands, complementary to ground-based spectral bands.The science objectives are broad, extending from individual hot stars, neutron stars, star-forming regions ...  to active galactic nuclei, addressing fundamental questions about stellar and galactic evolution, and cosmology. The Canadian Space Agency funds the fabrication of the photon-counting detectors for UVIT. The Canadian science team, which consists of 15 astronomers, will be responsible for the scientific calibration of these detectors. This includes the preparation of the calibration laboratory at the University of Calgary, design and performance of scientific calibration of the detectors, integration of the calibration data into the Indian ground system, participation in testing of full instrument in India, and contribution to the scientific commissioning and early science observations after launch.  Furthermore, the Canadian science team will participate in the planning of the scientific programs for UVIT and the X-ray instruments on ASTROSAT and will set up the peer review system to allow access to ASTROSAT by all Canadian scientists. This Special Research Opportunity proposal is to fund the Canadian science team for its activities with the UVIT. This work will involve a number of graduate students and post-docs for the 3-year period of the grant.