GMOS SV program 53

	Status: in preparation Data link: not yet available Assessment: not yet available

Title:	The Fundamental Plane at z=0.2
Modes:	Imaging (for mask preparation) Multi-object spectroscopy
Additional instrument verification:	Data reduction pipeline for imaging data and MOS data; mask preparation software.
Telescope verification:	Acquisition and guiding with GMOS for tested modes. Stability of guiding over long periods of time and large hour angles.
Proposed observing sequence:	Imaging: 4-6 dithered observations in order to cover the gaps between the CCDs and clean the combined images for bad pixels and cosmic-ray-events. MOS: Multiple 30-60 min exposures, no dithering.
OT program file:	Not yet available
Science background:	We propose to build the Fundamental Plane at z~0.18 of elliptical galaxies in clusters. We want to repeat a given number of elliptical galaxies already observed at Keck as part of the system verification process. The basic idea is to study the evolution of elliptical galaxies by measuring the FP at various redshifts. This program may be executed as a part of GMOS SV program 51.
Target(s):	Rich galaxy cluster: 15 clusters available
Observing condition constraints:	image quality: 50%-ile (MOS), 80%-ile (imaging) sky transparency (clouds): 50%-ile, 70%-ile sky transparency (water vapour): Any sky background: 50%-ile (MOS), 80%-ile (Imaging) max air mass: 1.5
Instrument configuration:	Imaging: r', CCD binned 2x2 MOS: B600, 0.75" slitlets, CCD binned 2x2
Observing time requirements:	Imaging: 4x3 min MOS: 3 hours.
SV team member(s) responsible for assessment:	Reinaldo de Carvalho

Last update October 12, 2001; Inger Jørgensen