Science calibration for highly multiplexed fiber-fed optical spectroscopy: update from Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer

Abstract

Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) is the only dedicated, >10 m class, multi-object facility under development on the best site in the Northern Hemisphere. MSE is designed to simultaneously obtain 4,332 spectra in three resolution modes in the optical and NIR. The design attributes of a wide field of view, a high multiplex capability, and the use of optical fibers to transport the light from the prime focus to two suites of spectrographs, mandate an efficient and precise science calibration process to account for the throughput and imaging variations between the astronomical targets at the detectors. To achieve MSE's science goals, the calibration process must enable accurate sky subtraction, wavelength correction, and spectrophotometry. In this paper, we continue our discussion on the science calibration requirements and procedures, and provide an update to the adopted calibration strategy, including likely operational features and hardware. This paper particularly focuses on two new aspects of MSE analysis, ghost behavior of the wide field corrector and the possible impact of satellite constellations on MSE observations.