DeepSpec: a broad-band R~650 spectrograph with multiplexing capabilities

DeepSpec is a novel R~650 broad-band (365nm-900nm) spectrograph planned for the Weizmann Multi-Aperture Spectroscopic Telescope (MAST). MAST is an array of twenty 60 cm PlaneWave telescopes, capable of either acting as a single 2.7m telescope or multiplexing over the entire sky using smaller flexible groups. This approach will make the combination of MAST/DeepSpec a unique facility worldwide in terms of its low cost, flexibility and efficiency, capable of observing up to hundreds of targets per night spread over large areas. With an end-to-end throughput of >65%, DeepSpec will be able to observe targets fainter than 20.5 mag in a 15-min exposure using all telescopes, or tens/hundreds of spectra per hour of 18-19 magnitude targets using smaller groups of telescopes – making it an ideal instrument for time-domain astronomy. DeepSpec is currently in the assembly, integration and testing phase and is planned to start on-sky commissioning by summer of 2024.