README Template 74.1 (please do not delete the README Template Version line!) ESO Programme ID: 60.A-9267(A) Principal Investigator Name: Ralf Siebenmorgen Principal Investigator E-mail Address: rsiebenm@eso.org Principal Investigator Telephone Number: 089-32006598 Principal Investigator Postal Address: ESO Garching Instrument: OPC Priority Class: OPC Approved Total Execution Time: Estimated Total Execution Time (including overheads): 60min README File Submission Date: 19-Oct.-2004 Programme Description ===================== General Overview ---------------- Supergiants are, besides AGB stars and supernovae, the major suppliers of dust to the interstellar medium. Furthermore, they are extremely luminous and in a pre-supernova stage of evolution. Among them, VY CMa is one of the most spectacular representatives. We wish to map VY CMa in the three Q-band and 2 N band filters. From previous TIMMI observations on the 3.6m (Smith et al., 2001, AJ 121, 1111), we expect the circumstellar shell to have an extension slighly greater than 10$"$, its emission should be optically thin ($A_{\rm V \simeq 15$mag). Through imaging the object, we will delineate the density distribution of the circumstellar dust, also with respect to the star, and by interpreting the data in the framework of a 2d radtiative transfer, derive the temperature profile. Another interesting problem that can be tackled with the 0.6$"$ spatial resolution attainable on the VLT at 20$\mu$m concerns the apparent disk-like structure seen in the 10$\mu$m image. A disk (or torus) is usually the result of rotation, but for a star as big as Jupiter, rotation must be unimportant. The new 20$\mu$m in combination with teh 12-13mic. imaging can help to seek an alternative explanation (binary system?). Approved Waiver Request Summary ------------------------------- n/a Critical Observing Condition Constraints ---------------------------------------- clear night, airmass<1.5 Time Critical Aspects --------------------- n/a Special Calibration Information ------------------------------- In case of detection please perform a standard star measurement as of VLT/VISIR calibration list for photometric calibration and PSF reference as described in the calibration plan described in the VISIR UserManual. ToO Information --------------- n/a Pre-Imaging Requirements ------------------------ NONE! Therefore a finding chart is n/a. Source of preimaging: n/a OB Information ============== List of Science OBs ------------------- (for ISAAC imaging, please indicate the magnitude of the brightest star in the field for each OB) Total Number of Submitted Science OBs: 1 List of Calibration OBs with Associated Science OBs --------------------------------------------------- n/a Total Number of Submitted Calibration OBs: n/a OB Compliance Checks ==================== (Y = Yes, N = No, NA = Not Applicable) Do all your OBs comply with the instrument specific requirements listed on the instrument specific Phase 2 Web pages ? [Y/N/NA] y Do all your Finding Charts comply with the both the general and instrument-specific finding chart requirements? [Y/N/NA] na If you submitted OBs for standard stars, did you specify the magnitude and spectral type of all standard stars ? [Y/N/NA] na Have you included OBs for any calibrations that you need but which are not a part of the Calibration Plan? [Y/N/NA] na [UVES only] Do all your UVES OBs use only the allowed templates listed on the UVES Phase 2 Web pages ? [Y/N/NA] [ISAAC only] Did you indicate the magnitude of the brightest star in the field for ISAAC imaging observations? [Y/N/NA] [ISAAC only] If you submitted OBs for standard stars, did you use the provided StandardStar templates? [Y/N/NA] [FLAMES only] Did you specify the hour angle range for which your Target Setup files are valid ? [Y/N/NA] [FLAMES only] Did you specify the S/N ratio (at some reference wavelength and per single exposure) you expect to reach with these observations? [Y/N/NA] [VIMOS only] Did you specify suitable guide stars for all your OBs using Guidecam? [Y/N/NA] [VIMOS only] Did you check that the chosen guide stars are suitable for all the offset positions and that they do not produce unacceptable vignetting of the field of view? [Y/N/NA] [MIDI only] Did you indicate for each science star OB the corresponding calibrator star OB name in the ReadMe file as well as in the comments of the OB ? [Y/N/NA] [MIDI only] If you use calibrator stars which are not in the CalVin database, did you specify their characteristics in the ReadMe file and in the OBs ? [Y/N/NA] If you answered "NO" to any of these questions, please revise your OBs *before* submission.