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Register a new userFrom a computer controlled telescope to a robotic observatory: the history of the VIRT
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The Virgin Island Robotic Telescope is located at the Etelman Observatory, St Thomas, since 2002. We will present its evolution since that date with the changes we have performed in order to modify an automated instrument, needing human supervision, to a fully robotic observatory. The system is based on ROS (Robotic Observatory Software) developed for TAROT and now installed on various observatories across the world (Calern, La Silla, Zadko, Les Markes, Etelman Observatory).
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[Abridged] The Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) is the new 64-m dish operated by INAF (Italy). Its active surface will allow us to observe at frequencies of up to 116 GHz. At the moment, three receivers, one per focal position, have been installed and tested. The SRT was officially opened in October 2013, upon completion of its technical commissioning phase. In this paper, we provide an overview of the main science drivers for the SRT, describe the main outcomes from the scientific commissioning of the telescope, and discuss a set of observations demonstrating the SRTs scientific capabilities. One of the main objectives of scientific commissioning was the identification of deficiencies in the instrumentation and/or in the telescope sub-systems for further optimization. As a result, the overall telescope performance has been significantly improved. As part of the scientific commissioning activities, different observing modes were tested and validated, and first astronomical observations were carried out to demonstrate the science capabilities of the SRT. In addition, we developed astronomer-oriented software tools, to support future observers on-site. The astronomical validation activities were prioritized based on technical readiness and scientific impact. The highest priority was to make the SRT available for joint observations as part of European networks. As a result, the SRT started to participate (in shared-risk mode) in EVN (European VLBI Network) and LEAP (Large European Array for Pulsars) observing sessions in early 2014. The validation of single-dish operations for the suite of SRT first light receivers and backends continued in the following years, and was concluded with the first call for shared-risk/early-science observations issued at the end of 2015.
The approach of Observational Astronomy is mainly aimed at the construction of larger aperture telescopes, more sensitive detectors and broader wavelength coverage. Certainly fruitful, this approach turns out to be not completely fulfilling the needs when phenomena related to the formation of black holes (BH), neutron stars (NS) and relativistic stars in general are concerned. Recently, mainly through the Vela, Beppo-SAX and Swift satellites, we reached a reasonable knowledge of the most violent events in the Universe and of some of the processes we believe are leading to the formation of black holes (BH). We plan to open a new window of opportunity to study the variegated physics of very fast astronomical transients, particularly the one related to extreme compact objects. The innovative approach is based on three cornerstones: 1) the design (the conceptual design has been already completed) of a 3m robotic telescope and related focal plane instrumentation characterized by the unique features: No telescope points faster; 2) simultaneous multi-wavelengths observations (photometry, spectroscopy o& polarimetry); 3) high time resolution observations. The conceptual design of the telescope and related instrumentation is optimized to address the following topics: High frequency a-periodic variability, Polarization, High z GRBs, Short GRBs, GRB-Supernovae association, Multi-wavelengths simultaneous photometry and rapid low dispersion spectroscopy. This experiment will turn the exception (like the optical observations of GRB 080319B) to routine.
Astronomical observations are about to deliver the very first telescopic image of the massive black hole lurking at the Galactic Center. The mass of data collected in one night by the Event Horizon Telescope network, exceeding everything that has ever been done in any scientific field, should provide a recomposed image during 2018. All this, forty years after the first numerical simulations done by the present author.
URAT1 is an observational, astrometric catalog covering most of the Dec >= -15 deg area and a magnitude range of about R = 3 to 18.5. Accurate positions (typically 10 to 30 mas standard error) are given for over 228 million objects at a mean epoch around 2013.5. For the over 188 million objects matched with the 2MASS point source catalog proper motions (typically 5 to 7 mas/yr std. errors) are provided. These data are supplemented by 2MASS and APASS photometry. Observations, reductions and catalog construction are described together with results from external data verifications. The catalog data are served by CDS, Starsbourg (I/329). There is no DVD release.
FRAM (F/Photometric Robotic Atmospheric Monitor) is a robotic telescope operated at the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina for the purposes of atmospheric monitoring using stellar photometry. As a passive system which does not produce any light that could interfere with the observations of the fluorescence telescopes of the observatory, it complements the active monitoring systems that use lasers. We discuss the applications of stellar photometry for atmospheric monitoring at optical observatories in general and the particular modes of operation employed by the Auger FRAM. We describe in detail the technical aspects of FRAM, the hardware and software requirements for a successful operation of a robotic telescope for such a purpose and their implementation within the FRAM system.
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