AstraLux: the Calar Alto Lucky Imaging Camera

TL;DR

AstraLux is a Lucky Imaging camera for the Calar Alto 2.2-m telescope that achieves near-diffraction limited imaging by selecting the best frames from high-speed CCD data, offering high-resolution images at low cost.

Contribution

This paper introduces AstraLux, a Lucky Imaging instrument using commercial components for rapid, cost-effective high-resolution astronomical imaging.

Findings

Achieves near-diffraction limited imaging in SDSS i' and z' filters.

Provides high-resolution images over a 24x24 arcsecond field.

Built quickly and inexpensively using readily available parts.

Abstract

AstraLux is the Lucky Imaging camera for the Calar Alto 2.2-m telescope, based on an electron-multiplying high speed CCD. By selecting only the best 1-10% of several thousand short exposure frames, AstraLux provides nearly diffraction limited imaging capabilities in the SDSS i' and z' filters over a field of view of 24x24 arcseconds. By choosing commercially available components wherever possible, the instrument could be built in short time and at comparably low cost. We present the instrument design, the data reduction pipeline, and summarise the performance and characteristics