TÜBİTAK National Observatory...Abstract TUG T60 is the second fully robotic telescope at TÜBİTAK...

Photometric Contributions from Robotic TUG T60 Telescope

Hasan H. Esenoğlu1 & Esin Sipahi2

1Istanbul Univ. Faculty of Science Dep. of Astronomy & Space Sciences2Ege Univ. Faculty of Science Dep. of Astronomy & Space Sciences

TÜBİTAK National Observatoryhttp://tug.tubitak.gov.tr

TÜBİTAK TUG 20th Anniversary Workshop Antalya, Türkiye, 8-10 September 2017

Abstract

TUG T60 is the second fully robotic telescope at TÜBİTAK National Observatory.

The T60 is also the smallest of the three active telescopes at TUG.

The telescope is about 10 years old, whereas the dome and building are twice as old.Because of this, the dome and the building are often undergoing maintenance and repair.

In the same way, mechanical improvements such as an automatic shutter were made on the telescope objective.

Most often (seasonal) project calls are made.

The telescope has served for photometric projects especially long term.

In this work, studies carried out up to now by the T60 telescope are given with outlines and statistics.

T60 Fully Robotic Telescope

• 60 cm aperture, f/10, RC, robotic telescope• FLI Proline 2K´2K BB CCD, UBVRI, SDSS and narrow band filters• FoV of 17.5'x17.5'• Installed in September 2008• The first projects were excepted in August 2010

T60 Fully Robotic Telescope

• T60 telescope can start observations automatically by itself viadaily scheduler and observations are done on the object orientedbase according to accepted projects.

• T60 telescope is controlled by TALON software.

• It was designed a new software for TALON to catch transientalerts like Gaia and GRB.

• T60 telescope’s RA and Dec axises have maximum slewaccelarations of 3.8 and 5.6 °/s2 and velocities of 11.1 and 8 °/s2,respectively.

The technical properties of the T60 telescope and the observingconditions are seen on the web page of TUG.

Aim of T60

T60 primary duty is to provide robotic telescope timeand research photometric facilities for Turkishuniversities and research institutes for their astronomicaland astrophysical research projects.

Statistics of T60 projects

Statistics of T60 projects

First project application date : 22.03.2010

Annual mean number of application projects (last three years) : 50

Main Topics of T60 Telescope Projects

Studies of T60 Telescope

• Optical observations of Gamma Ray Bursts and transient events like GAIA

• Photomery & Astrometry of Near Earth Objects

• Magnetic Activitiy on Cool Stars

• Binary/Eclipsing Binary Stars

• Disk precession and quasi-periodic oscillations in cataclysmic variables, monitoring light curves, and search for superhumps

• Photometry of variable stars in selected star clusters

• Short & long term photometry of selected semi-regular variables

Distribution of Project Topics

Distribution of Projects by Universities

Reseach Performance: GAIA

TUG T60 telescope has been allocated to Gaia alerts atcertain rates of 10-15 % of the total observation time.

Performance of T60 Telescope

Contribution to Gaia Alerts

Performance of T60 Telescope

Reseach Performance: GRB

T60 has often succeeded observations of GRB alerts byusing the software.

Performance of T60 Telescope

Contribution to GRB Alerts

Performance of T60 Telescope

Contribution to GRB Alerts

Performance of T60 TelescopeContribution to multiwavelenght observations

Performance of T60 Telescope

Performance of T60 Telescope

Performance of T60 Telescope

Performance of T60 Telescope

Performance of T60 Telescope

Technical Presentations About the T60

Innovation Study on the T60

Developing a new autonomous telescope scheduling algorithm by using cloudness and moon-light near field affect parameters

In a doctoral study, it is aimed to obtain a control parameter (cloudiness rate and Moon area) to be used to increase the productivity of the autonomous T60 telescope. It is aimed to create image processing algorithms and transfer the generated algorithm to an embedded system (software) platform so that the output of the T60 telescope can be used as a control input.

Innovation Study on the T60

All Sky Camera

Image Processing Computer

Results

1. Many projects are carrying out in different researchareas on TUG T60 telescope.

2. TUG T60 telescope has often succeeded GRN andGaia alerts.

3. TALON together with the new designed module canperforme for ToO observations of robotic T60telescope.

4. T60 telescope’s slew velocity and acceleration limitswere measured and its motion capability was enoughfast for ToO observations.

5. The T60 is open to innovation work, which willincrease its performance.

Thanks