All-Sky Mid-Infrared Imagery to Characterize Sky Conditions and Improve Astronomical Observational Performance

Abstract

This article describes a novel calibration method developed for the All Sky Infrared Visible Analyzer (ASIVA). This instrument is principally designed to characterize sky conditions for purposes of improving ground-based astronomical observational performance. Calibration and detection performance of the ASIVA's mid-infrared camera subsystem with particular emphasis on data products that are being developed to quantify photometric quality are described in detail. This analysis allows for the determination of a sky quality metric that can serve as a consistent and reliable metric for telescope scheduling purposes.