Contents

• Overview

• Elevation Angle Calculator

• Object Viewing Scheduler

Overview

This is a collaboration between McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). Construction of two identical 20 inch telescopes has just been completed by Torus Technologies. These telescopes utilize a unique optical design based on Ritchey-Cretien optics with a three element corrector to achieve near diffraction limited optics over a one degree field of view (FOV). The telescopes will initially employ back-illuminated SITe CCDs (Apogee) covering a reduced FOV. The telescopes will be installed in India and Arizona, putting them at approximately opposite ends of the earth (antipodes). The 170 degree separation will allow excellent temporal coverage of sources which experience interday variability. Continuous observations of these sources will allow reconstruction of the light curves and will also play a critical role in multiwavelength campaigns to monitor variable active galaxies (blazars) which often have optical variability. This observatory will also be able to monitor the afterglow produced by Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) because of the telescopes fast slewing capabilities and current notification networks like GCN which can communicate directly with the computer running the telescopes. Unlike other GRB counterpart searches, our instruments are not optimized for BATSE error boxes, but will rely on prompt positions < 10 armin to be provided by HETE 2 or INTEGRAL. Upon notification, the telescopes can begin panning the sky in the region the GRB is supposed to have originated.

Elevation Angle Calculator

Enter the start date, right ascension, declination, and proper motions in the fields below.

Date (mmddyyyy):
RA (hhmmmsss.ss):
DEC (dddmmmsss.ss):
RA proper motion (arcsec):
DEC proper motion (arcsec):

Object Viewing Scheduler

Object Data

Name of Object:
RA (hhmmmsss.ss):
Dec (dddmmmsss.ss):
Magnitude:
Proper Motion of RA (arcsec):
Proper Motion of Dec (arcsec):

Add this information to the current list of object data

Start a new list of object data with this information

Telescope Data

Focal ratio (f/#):
Primary Mirror Diameter (cm):
SNR (sigma):
Transmittance (.81 typical):
CCD Q.E. at 550nm:
Number of Pixels (across):
Pixel Size (microns):
Seeing (diameter in arcsec):
Dark current (cts/pixel/sec):
Read Noise (rms cts/pixel):
Well Depth (cts):
Fraction of Energy in Aperture:
Filter:	U B V R I none

Observing Information

Date (mmddyyyy):
Start time of observation (24-hr, hh.mm):
End time of observation (24-hr, hh.mm):
Desired minimum altitude (deg):