CorMASS: A compact and efficient near-infrared spectrograph for studying low-mass objects

CorMASS (Cornell Massachusetts Slit Spectrograph) is a compact, low-resolution (R similar to 300), double-pass prism cross-dispersed near-infrared (NIR) spectrograph in operation on the Palomar Observatory 60 inch telescope. Its two-dimensional spectral format provides simultaneous coverage of lambda similar to 0.74 mum to lambda similar to 2.5 mum (z'JHK bands). A remotely operated cold flip mirror permits its NICMOS3 detector to function as a K-s slit viewer to assist object placement into the 2 x 15 slit. CorMASS was primarily designed for the rapid spectral classification of low-mass stellar and substellar objects identified by the Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The efficiency and resolution of CorMASS also make it a versatile instrument for the spectral observation and classification of many other types of bright objects (K < 14) including quasars, novae, and emission-line objects.