Steve Benton (Princeton)

Date: Tue. September 17th, 2024, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: Rock 221 Foldy room

 

SuperBIT: Galaxy Cluster Weak Lensing from a Balloon

SuperBIT is the first of its kind, three-axis stabilized, high-resolution, wide-field imaging telescope that flies on a stratospheric balloon. I report on SuperBIT’s 40-day science flight in 2023, during which it observed dozens of astrophysical targets. Most of the observed targets are galaxy clusters, to study the properties of dark matter in and around the clusters using weak gravitational lensing. All images will be released to the public. SuperBIT observes at wavelngth bands from 300 to 1000 nm with a resolution of 0.35 arcseconds FWHM from its 0.5 m primary aperture. Stratospheric balloons provide space-like obseving conditions more accessibly than lauching to space. This capability had been underutilized due to technical challenges that the SuperBIT team has overcome. We are currently developing a 1.3 m successor. With applications extending beyond weak lensing, we hope to eventually create a frequently flying and upgrading facility-class instrument that will augment and in some ways surpass the capabilities of Hubble and other upcoming space telescopes.