Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21347421s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #474.21; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.431
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We have developed an observatory and telescope for automated rapid response observations of Gamma Ray Burst afterglows. The instrument is composed of a Celestron14 on a Paramount ME, with an Apogee U47 CCD, JMI electronically controlled focuser, and a DFM Engineering FW-82 filter wheel. The dome is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Appalachian State University's Dark Sky Observatory.
The system is controlled by Skynet, a website that allows queuing for astronomical observations on scientific telescopes world wide via software developed at UNC-Chapel Hill for their PROMPT array at Cerro Tololo. TheSky6 and MaximDL control the telescope movement and imaging, respectively, and are interfaced with Skynet through Terminator, a software program run on-site to control the actions of the telescope and monitor the weather conditions at the observatory. Weather monitoring is provided by online data from a Davis Vantage Pro weather station, a Boltwood cloud sensor, a Seeing Camera, a SBIG All-Sky ("meteor") camera, and, coming soon, a donated CONCAM.
One of the more difficult parts in the development was finding a way to power and remotely control our Ash dome. The dome slit is now opened on clear nights with power from solar cells mounted on the side of the dome. Both slit opening/closing and azimuthal movement are controlled using hardware encoders by Observa-Dome Laboratories. Wireless connection with dome control is possible using RF signals which Automadome regulates.
When the telescope is not observing GRB afterglows the telescope is available for use by any registered Skynet user for their own scientific research or for teaching astronomy labs to high school and college students.
We are grateful for the support provided by the North Carolina Space Grant, the Appalachian State University Research Council, and the National Science Foundation through the awarded grants AST-0520812 and AST-0722491.
Caton Daniel B.
Hawkins Lawrence
Ivarsen Kevin
Smith Adam B.
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