Overview: The Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (NIIS) is designed to be a portable near-infrared camera and spectrograph for University of Wyoming faculty and students. At present, the camera will be limited to imaging only. However, plans are underway to include a multi-object, spectroscopic capability with NIIS.
News: NIIS is currently nearing completion. The instrument has undergone extensive laboatory testing and the performance is excellent. The point-spread function (PSF) is 2.2 pixles FWHM over the entire field of view and the optics appear to have maintained their alignment over several cool-down cycles. Thus, NIIS appears to be on track for commissioining as a visitor instrument on the Apache Point 3.5-meter telescope early in 2011.