TIMMI, ESOS NEW 10-MU-M CAMERA SPECTROMETER

TIMMI stands for Thermal Infrared Multi Mode Instrument. TIMMI allows for imaging (at present 16 filters available) with variable magnificat ions as well as limited long-slit spectroscopy in the 10 mum atmospher ic window. The instrument was built by the Service d'Astrophysique (SA P) according to ESO's specification in a period of 2 years. At the tel escope the instrument is using the f35 chopping configuration in conju nction with the special adaptor unit. TIMMI control and primary data-a cquisition is performed by an VME-based computer (under OS9) while fin al data storage and online data processing with ESO's image processing system MIDAS is done using an UNIX workstation. While TIMMI will prov ide new observational possibilities for the ESO users community it is also supposed to become a test-bed to gain experience for similar inst rumentation at the VLT.