User's Manual for MOS: The CFHT Multi-Object Imaging Spectrograph

While SIS was designed to allow direct imaging and multi-object spectroscopy in a medium field with the best possible spatial resolution (thanks to its active mirror), MOS was aimed at allowing multi-object spectroscopy in the largest field compatible with current () CCD's. The two instruments are thus distinct and complimentary.

This manual describes the present status of MOS as well as observing procedures for using it efficiently. It is provided in order to allow you to prepare observing time proposals and scheduled observations. Critical comments on the manual's contents are welcome and should be directed to the author or CFHT's Directors. The manual is essentially an updated version of the original MOS/SIS manual written by O. LeFèvre. However, we chose to separate MOS and SIS because observers have in fact to deal with either one or the other of these two spectrographs. Moreover, SIS differs even more from MOS now that the infrared optics upgrade of SIS has been completed - SIS has now become OSIS. Observers interested in using OSIS should refer to the "Users' Manual for the CFHT Subarcsecond Imaging Spectrograph (OSIS)@." The manual also does not cover Fabry-Pérot observing modes. These are described in the "User's Manual for the Scanning Fabry-Pérot Spectrograph with the MOS/SIS Focal Reducers@." Finally, the Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) mode provided in the MOS-ARGUS configuration will also be covered in a separate manual, to be released soon.

A copy of this document can be downloaded in compressed postscript format.