Common-Resolution Convolution Kernels for Space- and Ground-Based Telescopes

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to create convolution kernels that unify the PSFs of various space- and ground-based telescopes, enabling consistent multi-wavelength imaging for studying extended astronomical objects.

Contribution

It introduces a new set of convolution kernels for multiple telescopes and ground-based instruments, facilitating multi-wavelength analysis with a common PSF.

Findings

Kernels preserve the spectral energy distribution in images.

Kernels are available for several space and ground-based telescopes.

Enables consistent multi-wavelength studies of extended objects.

Abstract

Multi-wavelength study of extended astronomical objects requires combining images from instruments with differing point spread functions (PSFs). We describe the construction of convolution kernels that allow one to generate (multi-wavelength) images with a common PSF, thus preserving the colors of the astronomical sources. We generate convolution kernels for the cameras of the Spitzer Space Telescope, Herschel Space Observatory, Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), ground-based optical telescopes (Moffat functions and sum of Gaussians), and Gaussian PSFs. These kernels allow the study of the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) of extended objects, preserving the characteristic SED in each pixel. The convolution kernels and the IDL packages used to construct and use them are made publicly available.