The Global Telescope

Network

Phil PlaitNASA E/PO

Sonoma State University

Variable Interest“The great North Star, with its steady light..."

Nope! Not all astronomical sources are constant

• Active galaxies (black holes are sloppy eaters and tend to belch)

• Polars

• Gamma-ray bursts

The Long View

The problem: How to observe these interesting objects over long periods of time?

The solution: Amateurs! Even better, robotic amateurs

Eye, Robot

Robotic observatories have many advantages:

• Can be located at remote locations• Scripted to observe predetermined objects• Can be programmed to respond quickly to

rapidly changing sources• Don’t make dumb mistakes due to lack of air• Can observe from home, school, wherever

Site UnseenWhat the modern roboscope needs:

• Remote, dark site• Telescope with internet access• Programmable mount• Automatic dome• Targets• Observers!• Perseverance

GORT (GLAST Optical robotic telescope)

•Celestron 14” Paramount/AP47P•CCD and filter wheel•Pepperwood Preserve, Hume Observatory (California Academy of Sciences)•About 30 minutes north of SSU

The original GORT

Klaatu Barada Nikto

30 km

The Global (nee GLAST) Telescope Network

• Network of ground-based telescopes• Purpose: to support GLAST, Swift and XMM-

Newton science, and educate students about astronomy by partnering with

NASA scientists• Partners:

– Sonoma State University E/PO Group– AAVSO– Hands On Universe Project (Yerkes)– Elk Creek Observatory (Kansas)– California Academy of Sciences– WIRO (Wyoming + 2 other possible locations)

• Actively recruiting other partners (VERITAS?)

Active Galaxies

• Galaxies with unusually bright nuclei• Emission lines (narrow and/or broad)• Some have jets

All appear to have black holesin the middle

3C 279

OPTICAL

GAMMA RAY

Warp Speed

BL Lac:A feisty galaxy on all timescales

Days

Years

Hours

Trail Blazar

Polars

• White dwarfs (dead stars) with unusually strong magnetic fields

• Orbit a “normal” star, draw matter off• Matter falls right onto surface, creating X-rays• Can study interaction of gas and magnetism

Gamma-Ray Bursts

• Incredible blasts of energy = 1018 Suns

• ~ 1 per day• Flash may last seconds to

minutes• Optical observations

critical to understanding• Birth of black holes

Low Energy Astrophysics

Most of these objects emit energyacross the electromagnetic spectrum.

Observing these objects in the visible/optical deepens our

understanding of their underlying physics

Join Us

Partner: • Has their own telescope • Will observe adopted targets • Will analyze data, make data

available to others• Will offer observing time to participants

Associate: • Does not have their own telescope • Will work on data from other observers

Both: • STRONGLY encouraged to use data for educational purposes

Resistance is Futile

What/Who are we looking for?

• Observers with access to telescopes w/CCD (NOT necessarily robotic)• Data analysts• Willing to observe a minimum amount (depending on project)• Willing to have data archived and used by others• Not up for a long-term commitment? Go through the AAVSO!

Advantages: • Work with professionals on cutting-edge science• Publishing• Info/tutorials on robotic telescopes• Receive GTN updates• Free educational materials related to astronomy and astronomical observing

Keep Looking Up!

Adopt a blazar: • Choose a blazar (maximize observing

season)• Observe as often as you can• V+I bands, S/N ~100, photometry 1%

Specific Target Campaign: • Object chosen by AAVSO, GTN• Everyone blasts away at it at the same time

for several days/weeks• Get as complete coverage as possible

(time = longitude)

Observing Programs

Blazar of the month: • Choose 1 GTN blazar every month• Observe as often as you can• Rinse, repeat

Blazar of the week: • Choose 1 GTN blazar every week• Observe as often as you can• Rinse, repeat• Not for the faint of heart

Keep Looking Up! (2)

Still, Keep Looking Up!

• Polar surveillance – V and I observations of 2 targets / month– S/N >100, photometry ~1%

• High time-resolution datasets– Microvariability– Observe one target for

many hours– At least once/year

• Gamma-ray bursts– Rapid response (GCN notification)– High S/N, but fast, multiple images more critical– Astrometry/Photometry

OK, I’ve Looked up. Now what?

• Data Analysis

– Obtain and analyze previously taken data

– Need to take/pass a photometry tutorial (same is true for partners)

Once you’ve done that successfully…

• Propose

– Write and submit a proposal to observe a GTN program object

– Use a GTN partner observatory

– Long-term campaign or microvariability

• You can “place out’ of these steps if you can show your experience

A Plan of Action for Associates

GTN Participant Benefits:

Real science with professional scientist partners!• Submit proposals to acquire data if you do not have your own visible-light telescope• GRB Astrometry analysis• GRB Photometry analysis• Data archiving at SSU• Light curves reported through AAVSO

Pepperwood dome

Potential Educational Projects

• Simple image reduction and analysis

• Hands-On Universe• AAVSO cooperation• Educational unit (in progress)

Goals: •Combine gamma-ray and visible light data •Partner with scientists to publish data in scientific journals

http://gtn.sonoma.edu

UNUSED SLIDES FOLLOW

GLAST

• Observes gamma rays

• High-energy objects

• Active galaxies, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, magnetic neutron stars, polars, solar flares

• Launches in 2007 (or so), 5+ year mission

• 350 M$ (+foreign $), with 1% to E/PO

Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope

• Provide short, medium, and long-term baseline observations of interesting targets (pre- and post-launch)

• Synoptic (concurrent) observations with GLAST (post-launch, duh), Spitzer infrared observatory

• Multi-wavelength observations provide insight into physics of energy generation and physical properties of central engines

LEA (2)

A Word From Our Sponsors

Active Galaxies (2)