Article

The ROTSE‐III Robotic Telescope System

C. AkerlofDepartment of Physics, 2477 Randall Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109‐1120;R. KehoeDepartment of Physics, 2477 Randall Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109‐1120;Timothy A. McKayDepartment of Physics, 2477 Randall Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109‐1120;E. S. RykoffDepartment of Physics, 2477 Randall Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109‐1120;D. A. SmithDepartment of Physics, 2477 Randall Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109‐1120;D. E. CaspersonLos Alamos National Laboratory, NIS‐2 MS D436, Los Alamos, NM 87545;K. McGowanLos Alamos National Laboratory, NIS‐2 MS D436, Los Alamos, NM 87545;W. T. VestrandLos Alamos National Laboratory, NIS‐2 MS D436, Los Alamos, NM 87545;P. R. WoźniakLos Alamos National Laboratory, NIS‐2 MS D436, Los Alamos, NM 87545;J. WrenLos Alamos National Laboratory, NIS‐2 MS D436, Los Alamos, NM 87545;M. C. B. AshleySchool of Physics, Department of Astrophysics and Optics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia;Michael A. PhillipsSchool of Physics, Department of Astrophysics and Optics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia;S. L. MarshallLawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA 94551‐0808;Harland W. EppsLick Observatory, University of California Observatories, Santa Cruz, CA 95064;Jan SchierThe Pilot Group, 128 West Walnut Avenue, Unit C, Monrovia, CA 91016;

2003en

ABI

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The observation of a prompt optical flash from GRB 990123 convincingly demonstrated the value of autonomous robotic telescope systems. Pursuing a program of rapid follow-up observations of gammaray bursts, the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE) has developed a next-generation instrument, ROTSE-III, that will continue the search for fast optical transients. The entire system was designed as an economical robotic facility to be installed at remote sites throughout the world. There are seven major system components: optics, optical tube assembly, CCD camera, telescope mount, enclosure, environmental sensing and protection, and data acquisition. Each is described in turn in the hope that the techniques developed here will be useful in similar contexts elsewhere. 1.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1086/345490

Citations and references

Cited by 20 references

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