las cumbres observatory global telescope network 1 mike falarski vp of operations () presentation...
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 1
Las Cumbres Observatory
Global Telescope Network
Las Cumbres Observatory
Global Telescope Network
Mike FalarskiMike FalarskiVP of Operations
(www.LCOGT.net)
Presentation for Microlensing Workshop
November 13, 2008
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 2
The LCOGT MissionThe LCOGT Mission
• Establish and build a durable scientific institution dedicated to time-domain astrophysics
• Use astronomical research to inspire critical thinking & technical understanding in young people
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 3
About LCOGTAbout LCOGT• A privately funded observatory
– Astronomers and main office in Goleta (Santa Barbara,) CA– Engineering/ops offices in Goleta & Birkenhead, UK– Associated with University of California at Santa Barbara
• Build telescope observatory facilities to enable the science – We will make them available to the extended astronomical community– 30+ FTE engineering and operations staff
• Do original science – Encourage collaborations– Collaborate with others to study time-varying astronomical phenomena. LCOGT is
member of Pan- Starrs Consortium (with Harvard-CFA), LSST, Palomar Transient Factory
• Science Staff– Dr. Tim Brown is Scientific Director– Dr. Andrew Pickles is Assistant Technical Director– LCOGT has eight post-doctoral fellows– LCOGT has five astronomy PhD’s in Engineering, 17 PhD’s total.
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 4
Main Science FociMain Science Foci
Extra-solar Planets, 20 found by LCOGT astronomers
Extragalactic transients
Stellar oscillations, variable stars
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 5
Existing and Planned ObservatoriesExisting and Planned Observatories
• 2 x 2m telescopes (Hawaii & Australia)– These are our existing “Faulkes” telescopes– They are undergoing extensive upgrades and improvements– They will be used for science and advanced education
• 24 x 0.4m telescopes, in clusters of 2 or 4– These will form the educational network although a portion of their time will also be allocated to research, extinction, standards– They will usually be co-located in the 1.0m observatories
• 15 x 1m telescopes, in clusters of 2 or 3– These will form the research network. – Telescopes in a cluster will be independently mounted and controlled, and may point at different targets.
• 1x0.8m Sedgwick Observatory in Santa Ynez
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 6
Observation CapabilitiesObservation Capabilities• Rapid response: ToO mode “normal”• Scheduled event monitoring• Moving (astronomical) objects• Periodic sampling• Long-term & continuous monitoring• Global and homogeneous photometric
system: identical filters, CCDs, calibration and reduction methodology
• Medium resolution (R30,000) common spectrograph fed by each 1m telescope cluster
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 7
Our Proposed NetworkOur Proposed Network
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 8
Equipment Bldg
Auxiliary Equipment
Typical Observatory ClusterTypical Observatory Cluster
• Typical 3 enclosure cluster• Three 1m and four 0.4m telescope• 10’x 30’ Services Bldg• Auxiliary Equip: Generator, chiller
• Roll-off roof and dome enclosures being considered
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 9
Typical Roll-off EnclosuresTypical Roll-off Enclosures
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 10
LCOGT Telescope InventoryLCOGT Telescope Inventory
2m Telescopes1m Telescope
0.4m Telescope
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 11
2m Telescopes2m Telescopes
• Two telescopes designed by TTL
• Acquired by LCOGT in 2005
• Continuous improvement program• Improve reliability• Improve science output• Program complete winter 2008
• Both operational • Significant educational component
• Other TTL: Li Jang, Pune, La Palma
• Operate in open air, 30Kmph wind
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 12
Faulkes Telescope South (FTS): Siding Spring, NSWFaulkes Telescope South (FTS): Siding Spring, NSW
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 13
Faulkes Telescope North (FTN): Haleakala, HIFaulkes Telescope North (FTN): Haleakala, HI
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 14
0.4m Telescope0.4m Telescope
• RELIABILITY + PERFORMANCE• Direct drive / friction rollers• Easy alignment• New bearing materials and specs• Sealed friction drive surfaces• High resolution (30mas) on-axis
encoders
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 15
0.4m Telescope Status0.4m Telescope Status• First prototype working at SBA
- Validated concept and verified image quality (3rd night image below)
• 2 pilot telescopes in test as pre-manufacture verification
- Santa Barbara CA, and Liverpool UK offices
• Two 0.4M telescopes to be installed in each of FTS & FTN
• Primary early function is network software development but will do science and education observing as 2nd priority
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 16
1m Telescope1m Telescope• Basic design concept:
– C-ring mount with fast response: 10deg/s– Light weight optics, thermally responsive– Stiff, light-weight assembly, carbon truss– Excellent imager – Simple, reliable, relatively inexpensive
• Currently in design phase• Mirror blanks in production• Prototype testing begins Q2 2009• 1st telescope deployed late 2009 to Chile
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 17
• Fairchild 4K x 4K 486 CCD
• 4096x4096 15um back illuminated – High QE, Class 1 detectors, bulk order
• LCO developed (in house) controller– 4e RON in 40s, 12e in 4s (4 channels)– Closed-cycle cooling– 62mm square, Broadband u-Zs, Y?– Fast readout, multiple sub-frame region capability
• 2.0M: 10’x10’ FoV, 0.30” pixels (binned 2x2)– (Spectral Instruments version)– We may develop a 2x2 mosaic camera
• 1.0M: 26’x26’ FoV, 0.39” pixels– ugriZsY, UBVRcIc, Narrow band filters
• 0.4M: 29’x20’ FoV, 0.57” pixels– SBIG KAF-6303E, 3072 x 2048 for first units– Probably e2v BE CCD for full deployment
LCOGT CamerasLCOGT Cameras
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 18
• Homogeneous and trustworthy photometry, coupled with long-term coverage is our primary goal
• Central cluster based scheduler will manage a global telescope (We are not trying to solve the problem of scheduling between autonomous distributed robots.)
• Traditional TAC procedures will allocate at top level
• The most important science always wins. Because we are private we do not need to be fair (Exception: host commitments)
• Local flash reduction cluster enables complex Python scripted observation agents
LCOGT Software & NetworkLCOGT Software & Network
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 19
• LCOGT will comply and be an HTN compatible ‘telescope’
• Education will not be a different system – just a subset of professional astronomer capability
• Standard observation types will be automatically reduced to minimize image transport issues.
• 100% open source except for TPSOFT code, including mechanical and electronic design
• We expect to re-write the scheduler many times!
LCOGT Software & Network -IILCOGT Software & Network -II
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 20
Current ScheduleCurrent Schedule• 2m improvement completed by Q1 2009 and doing
good science reliably
• Six 0.4m telescopes to be deployed as prototype network by Q1 2009
• Prototype 1m telescope operational by Q2 2009– 1st 1m network telescope deployed by Q4 2009 to CTIO
• Goal is to have agreements for key additional sites in place by end of 2008 -- CTIO, SAAO, La Palma
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Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network 21
In SummaryIn Summary
Our plan is to keep astronomy in the dark.
Clear skies!