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This paper describes the performance of a unique new infrared array camera system which provides simultaneous imaging at two wavelengths in the near infrared. Two-color imaging is achieved with a dicbroic beam splitter which yields two independent beams, one short-wave (SW) from 1-2.5 jim and one long-wave (LW) from 2-5 pm. A Rockwell NICMOS 3 256x256 HgCdTe array is used in the SW channel and the LW channel has an InSb 256x256 array from SBRC. The instrument, which is designed for the University of California's Lick Observatory 3-rn telescope and for the f/15 focus of the 10-m W.M. Keck telescope, employs a closed cycle refrigerator and a compact array control/data acquisition systern based on transputers with a host 486 PC. On the Lick 3-rn telescope the pixel size is 0.7" which gives a field of view of about 180"x180". Facilities are also provided for spectroscopy and polarimetry. Recent observational results are reported to illustrate the performance of this system.

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Future X-ray astronomical missions will need to address a number of important goals such as studying the dynamics of clusters of galaxies, determining how elements are created in the explosions of massive stars, and revealing most of the "normal" matter in the universe which is currently thought to be hidden in hot filaments of gas stretching between galaxies. In order to achieve these goals, spectrometers capable of high resolution and high throughput are necessary for the lowest X-ray energies, 0.3-1.0 keV. We present recent progress in the development of off-plane reflection grating technology for use on upcoming missions. Off-plane grating spectrometers consist of an array of gratings capable of reaching resolutions above 3000 (λ/∆λ). Concept designs have been made for the International X-ray Observatory X-ray Grating Spectrometer. More recently however, we have designed an Optics Module Assembly for WHIMex, an Explorer mission concept that incorporates a Wolter telescope, steering flats, and an array of gratings. This paper will discuss these designs and the application of off-plane arrays for the future.

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