Liverpool Telescope
Encyclopedia
The Liverpool Telescope is a 2 metres (6.6 ft) fully robotic telescope
that observes autonomously, i.e. it operates without human intervention. Professional astronomers and other registered users submit observation specifications to be considered by the telescope's robotic control system (RCS) at any time of the day or night using an online GUI
. Each night the RCS decides for itself what to observe next, monitoring seeing and weather conditions as the night progresses, and dynamically selecting the next observation accordingly.
Its operating, dynamic scheduling, and environmental awareness behaviour is somewhat akin to giving a futuristic robot a grocery shopping list, and then doing something else while the robot goes shopping for you. It decides the best order in which to buy the goods, and adjusts the order dynamically in response to new priorities as older ones are completed, changes in the environment (be it meteorological or astronomical), and any additional requests from the user on the fly.
The RCS additionally has a rapid-response capability where it can automatically interrupt regular observations to slew to observe transient phenomena with higher priority, such as gamma-ray bursts.
It is the largest robotic telescope in the world to be used primarily for astronomical research.
The telescope was built by Telescope Technologies Ltd., and is owned by Liverpool John Moores University
with operational funding from PPARC. It is sited at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos
on La Palma
. It is a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope.
Along with the Faulkes Telescope North
and the Faulkes Telescope South
, the Liverpool Telescope is also available for use by school children around the world over the internet. The registration and time allocation for the LT is organised by the National Schools Observatory.
Robotic telescope
A robotic telescope is an astronomical telescope and detector system that makes observations without the intervention of a human. In astronomical disciplines, a telescope qualifies as robotic if it makes those observations without being operated by a human, even if a human has to initiate the...
that observes autonomously, i.e. it operates without human intervention. Professional astronomers and other registered users submit observation specifications to be considered by the telescope's robotic control system (RCS) at any time of the day or night using an online GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
. Each night the RCS decides for itself what to observe next, monitoring seeing and weather conditions as the night progresses, and dynamically selecting the next observation accordingly.
Its operating, dynamic scheduling, and environmental awareness behaviour is somewhat akin to giving a futuristic robot a grocery shopping list, and then doing something else while the robot goes shopping for you. It decides the best order in which to buy the goods, and adjusts the order dynamically in response to new priorities as older ones are completed, changes in the environment (be it meteorological or astronomical), and any additional requests from the user on the fly.
The RCS additionally has a rapid-response capability where it can automatically interrupt regular observations to slew to observe transient phenomena with higher priority, such as gamma-ray bursts.
It is the largest robotic telescope in the world to be used primarily for astronomical research.
The telescope was built by Telescope Technologies Ltd., and is owned by Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
with operational funding from PPARC. It is sited at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the municipality of Garafía on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands...
on La Palma
La Palma
La Palma is the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands. La Palma has an area of 706 km2 making it the fifth largest of the seven main Canary Islands...
. It is a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope.
Along with the Faulkes Telescope North
Faulkes Telescope North
The Faulkes Telescope North is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope, and is located at Haleakala Observatory in the U.S. state of Hawaii.The telescope is owned and operated by LCOGT. This telescope and its sister telescope Faulkes Telescope South are used by research and education groups across the...
and the Faulkes Telescope South
Faulkes Telescope South
The Faulkes Telescope South is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope and is located at Siding Spring Observatory. It is a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope....
, the Liverpool Telescope is also available for use by school children around the world over the internet. The registration and time allocation for the LT is organised by the National Schools Observatory.
External links
- Liverpool Telescope website
- The National Schools Observatory who allocate observing time to schools
- The RoboNet global network which controls the Liverpool Telescope over the internet