All-Sky Mid-Infrared Imagery To Characterize Sky Conditions And Improve Stellas Observational Performance

The All Sky Infrared Visible Analyzer (ASIVA) is an instrument principally designed to characterize sky con- ditions for purposes of improving ground-based astronomical observational performance. The ASIVA's primary functionality is to provide radiometrically calibrated imagery across the entire sky over the mid-infrared (IR) spectrum (8-13 mu m). Calibration procedures have been developed for purposes of quantifying the photometric quality of the sky. These data products are used to provide the STELLA scheduler with real-time measured conditions of the sky/clouds, including thin cirrus to better optimize observing strategy. We describe how this can be used in the denition of the observing programs to make best use of the telescope time. Additional research is underway to correlate infrared spectral radiance with visible-spectrum extinction.