Atmospheric Differential Refraction

Welcome to the documentation for the ‘wifes_adr.py’ module, which contains the core functions for correcting atmospheric differential refraction in WiFeS data.

pywifes.wifes_adr.adr_x_y(wavelength_array, secz, objha, objdec, tellat, teltemp, telpres, telwvp=8.0, telpa=0.0, ref_wl=5000.0)

Atmospheric differential refraction, based on model of Filippenko (1982PASP…94..715F).

Assumes plane-parallel atmosphere; Barrell (1951) model for dependence of index of refraction on temperature, air pressure, and water vapour pressure; and values for index of refraction at sea level from Edlen 1953 / Coleman, Bozman, & Meggers 1960.

Default water vapour pressure of 8 mm of mercury from Filippenko corresponds to _saturation_ pressure (not actual pressure) at air temperature of ~7 C, typical of average conditions for latitude of +/-30 deg and altitude of ~2000 m (Allen 1973), where the air pressure is ~600 mm of mercury.

Inputs:

  • wavelength_array: (vacuum) wavelengths at which to calculate the differential refraction.

  • secz: secant of zenith angle, equivalent to the airmass for moderate zenith angles (<60 deg).

  • objha: hour angle of the target in degrees.

  • objdec: declination of the target in degrees.

  • tellat: telescope latitude in degrees.

  • telltemp: air temperature at telescope in Celsius.

  • telepres: air pressure at telescope in mm of mercury.

  • telwvp: water vapour pressure at telescope in mm of mercury.

    Default 8 mm.

  • telpa: position angle (radians East from North).

    Default 0 radians.

  • ref_wl: reference wavelength for the differential refraction in Angstroms.

    Default 5000 A.

Outputs:

  • list of [array of x-axis offsets for each wavelength, array of y-axis offsets for each wavelength].

    Units of arcseconds.