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The Development and Implementation of a Remote Robotic THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A REMOTE ROBOTIC TELESCOPE SYSTEM AT APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S DARK SKY OBSERVATORY A Thesis by ADAM BLYTHE SMITH Submitted to the Graduate School Appalachian State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2009 Major Department: Physics & Astronomy Copyright © 2009 by Adam Blythe Smith All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A REMOTE ROBOTIC TELESCOPE SYSTEM AT APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S DARK SKY OBSERVATORY August 2009 Adam Blythe Smith, B.S., Appalachian State University M.S., Engineering Physics, Appalachian State University Thesis Chairman: Daniel B. Caton Robotic telescopes (RTs) are changing the field of observational astronomy. Although, in the past observational astronomy seemed only to be a professional endeavor using large aperture telescopes has now become, thanks to advances in computer technology, a world wide conglomeration of both professional scientists and advanced amateurs. As time has gone on the technologies used to run these telescope systems has become faster, more reliable, and more user friendly. A completely robotic telescope system saves time and money all the while streamlining data acquisitions and pipelining data reduction processes that previously took astronomers hours or days to complete. The observatories of Appalachian State University (ASU), in coordination with the University of North Carolina Gamma-ray Burst (UNC GRB) group at the University of iv North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), are currently integrating their telescopes onto a global network of RTs called the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network. The purpose of the Skynet Network is to observe the very short-lived afterglows caused the little-understood astrophysical phenomena known as Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). The network is managed and controlled by Skynet; a Web-based prioritized queue scheduling system continuing to be developed at UNC-CH. Skynet manages astronomical observation jobs requested through its website that run on telescopes during their “idle time”, the available telescope time when GRBs are not being observed. The primary focus of this thesis is on DSO-14, a 14-inch RT at ASU’s Dark Sky Observatory (DSO), the first of ASU’s telescopes connected to the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network and currently available for use through the Skynet website. Discussed is the development and implementation of DSO-14, detailing the installation, the instrumentation, software, modifications we made to an existing dome, and the various problems we encountered. Also included are results of DSO-14’s first successful detection of a GRB afterglow, GRB 090530, observed on the night of 30 May 2009. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I, and others who worked on the DSO-14 project, wish to thank the North Carolina Space Grant for a New Initiatives Grant and the Appalachian State University Research Council who both provided instrumentation funding for which we are grateful. I thank the ASU Office of Student Research for the funds which allowed me to present our work at the 213 th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in January 2009. I also wish to thank the NC Space Grant for awarding me a Space Grant Fellowship in 2007 and a Graduate Research Fellowship in 2008 allowing me to continue my work on the telescope. I am very grateful to Dr. Daniel Reichart who awarded me one of the first PROMPT Summer Fellowships in 2006 to work at UNC-Chapel Hill learning about GRBs and the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network in order to help develop the project described here. I am in debt of gratitude to Kevin Ivarsen at UNC-Chapel Hill for his assistance and endless patience while we integrated DSO-14 onto the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network. I am also grateful to Lee Hawkins, Butch Miller, and Mike Hughes, who designed, fabricated, and installed many of the hardware components necessary to operate DSO-14. Thank you to the Department of Physics & Astronomy, especially to Drs. Calamai, Pollock, Saken, Gray, and Clements whose support has made me feel so welcome, happy to be here, and has and continues to help me to become a better astronomer and teacher. Finally, the biggest of thanks to Dr. Daniel Caton, for the many opportunities offered to me which I had never thought possible. Without your tireless efforts, teaching, and helping me, I could not have come this far. Thank you. vi DEDICATION To My Parents: For Encouraging me Time and Time again to Go Forth and Explore the Universe. Thank You. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................... vi DEDICATION........................................................................................................................ vii 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. A Brief History of Gamma Ray Burst Astronomy .........................................................1 1.1.1. Vela to BeppoSAX ..................................................................................................1 1.1.2. Swift and Beyond.....................................................................................................5 1.2. PROMPT and The Skynet Robotic Telescope Network.................................................8 2. REMOTE AND ROBOTIC TELESCOPES ...................................................................... 11 2.1. Introduction...................................................................................................................11 2.2. Problems with Current Networks..................................................................................12 2.3. About Robotic Telescopes ............................................................................................14 2.4. Equipment for RTs........................................................................................................17 2.5. Developments in RTs and RT Networks ......................................................................19 2.6. Standard Drivers for RTs..............................................................................................22 2.7. RT Data Reduction Pipelines........................................................................................23 2.8. Observational Projects Suited for RTs..........................................................................25 2.9. Future of RTs ................................................................................................................27 3. THE DSO-14 REMOTE ROBOTIC TELESCOPE PROJECT ......................................... 28 3.1. The Dark Sky Observatory and Rankin Science Observatory......................................28 3.2. Research Opportunities on DSO-14..............................................................................30 3.2.1. Gamma-Ray Burst Research..................................................................................31 viii 3.2.2. Eclipsing Binary Star Systems...............................................................................33 3.2.3. Exoplanets in Binary Star Systems........................................................................35 3.2.4. Asteroids ................................................................................................................37 3.2.5. Supernovae Survey ................................................................................................39 3.2.6. Long-Period Monitoring........................................................................................40 4. MOUNT AND TELESCOPE HARDWARE..................................................................... 42 4.1. Software Bisque’s Paramount ME................................................................................42 4.2. Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope........................................................47 4.3. OTA Mounting Rings ...................................................................................................49 4.4. OTA Lens Shade and Dew Shield ................................................................................52 4.5. Collimation Thumbscrews............................................................................................53 4.6. C-14 Mirror Flop-Stoppers ...........................................................................................54 4.7. DFM Filter Wheel and Bessell Filters ..........................................................................56 4.8. JMI Motorized Focuser.................................................................................................59 4.9. Apogee Alta U47 CCD Camera....................................................................................61 4.10. Balancing the Telescope .............................................................................................63 5. DOME HARDWARE AND PERIPHERALS.................................................................... 64 5.1. Ash Dome .....................................................................................................................64 5.2. Observa-DOME Control Hardware ..............................................................................66 5.3. Solar Panel Powered Shutter.........................................................................................70
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