Thursday, 01 July 2021, 15:00 - 16:00 EDT
Abstract: CASTOR is a proposed wide-field, nearly diffraction-limited space telescope that is under development by the Canadian Space Agency. The 1m CASTOR telescope will produce panoramic imaging of the UV/optical (150-550 nm) sky, using a three mirror anastigmat design to provide nearly Hubble-like image quality over a wide field (0.25 sq. deg.) in three filters simultaneously. Operating from low-earth orbit, CASTOR will be optimized for widefield surveys, although the telescope may also feature low- and medium-resolution spectroscopic capabilities over the 150 to 400 nm region. In this talk, I will describe CASTOR’s design, specifications, science drivers, and status, highlighting synergies with the next generation of space- and ground-based imaging facilities (i.e., Euclid, Roman, and Rubin).