SAURON: integral-field spectroscopy of galaxies

We present the first results from a new and unique integral-field spectrogr aph, SAURON, for the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope on La Palma. Based up on the TIGER concept, SAURON uses a lens array to obtain two-dimensional sp ectroscopy with complete spatial coverage over a field of 33"x41" in low-re solution mode (0.94" lenslets) and of 9"x11" in high-resolution mode (0.26" lenslets). The spectra cover 4800 Angstrom to 5300 Angstrom with a resolut ion of 3 Angstrom (sigma =75 km s(-1)). SAURON achieved first light during commissioning on the WHT on 1 February 1999. The instrument performed well and we are commencing a systematic survey of the velocity dispersions, velo city fields. and line-strength distributions in nearby ellipticals and spir al bulges. The wide field of SAURON will be crucial for unravelling complic ated velocity structures. In combination with available long-slit spectrosc opy of the outer regions of the galaxies, HST spectra of the nuclei, and HS T imaging, we will constrain the intrinsic shapes, mass-to-light ratios, an d stellar populations in spheroids. In this presentation we will give a sta tus report and preliminary results from our first science run in February 1 999. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.