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"Astronomical observatories."
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New Astronomical Observatory Design for the Detection and Tracking of Satellite Objects: The Satellite Robotic Observatory (SRO)
Robotic Astronomical Observatories (RAOs) have provided very good results in different research projects in astrophysics/astronomy. Their applications in the detection, tracking, and identification of near-Earth objects have contributed to the identification of potentially dangerous objects for our security, such as near-Earth Objects (NEOs), near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), meteors, and comets, whose trajectory changes can cause an impact on our planet. If advances in astrometry techniques (measuring the position and trajectory of Earth-orbiting objects) and photometry (variation in light curves) are considered together with the new sensors that work in the optical and near-infrared spectral ranges, a new observatory system that allows for the detection of nearby satellite objects in different spectral ranges and with better-defined optics can be developed. The present paper describes the design of a new observatory applied to the surveillance and tracking of satellites and other debris objects, the Satellite Robotic Observatory (SRO). Starting from general constraints from astronomy observatories, the design process has been determined, considering the main objectives, the necessary sensors, and several technical improvements that have contributed to a final configuration proposed for the SRO. The result is the design of a portable observatory model that can host at least two sensors to track and monitor satellite objects simultaneously.
Journal Article
The Hubble cosmos : 25 years of new vistas in space
This title celebrates NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and its 25 years of accomplishments.
Book
Review of potential astronomical optical observatory sites in the Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands with many geographical features such as mountain ranges, seas, and plains. The country has fairly developed cities that are now experiencing various kinds of pollution at different levels and intensities. Highly developed urban areas are brightly lit and are currently experiencing worsening light pollution. Despite this, the two biggest telescopes in the country are still installed in two observatories right in the country’s capital city where light pollution is at its worst. This paper aims to identify several locations away from light pollution in the islands of Luzon, the biggest island in the Philippines, and the island of Palawan, where optical astronomical observatories may be built. The locations are chosen by studying the comparative light pollution scales in the various locations. The topography of the place and meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation are likewise studied and considered as factors. Included in these factors is the fact that both the islands of Luzon and Palawan experience several typhoons every year, while earthquakes occur anywhere in the archipelago. For this reason, the observatories to be built must be designed to withstand Category 5 typhoons and strong magnitude 7 to 8 earthquakes. The results of the study identify the places on the island of Palawan and in northern Luzon which are good dark sites for the establishment of optical astronomy observatories. These locations can be declared as protected and developed as dark-sky sites dedicated to the study of Astronomy.
Journal Article
The ghost in the telescope : stories from the Herschel Space Observatory
\"The Ghost in the Telescope is an insider's account of the Herschel Space Observatory, which was built to answer the questions of how the stars and galaxies were born. Written in an engaging manner for a general audience, the book tells the stories of the telescope itself, the discoveries it made, and the engineers and astronomers who made and used it. The book, based on the author's own experience and interviews with the key astronomers and engineers, tells the story of the mission, from its original concept on a piece of paper in Venice to the moment after the end of the mission when the engineers had to decide whether to crash the spacecraft into the Moon. Containing some of the most spectacular pictures ever taken of the universe, the book describes all the major discoveries made with the telescope. The book also gives an account, accessible to anyone without previous scientific knowledge, of the latest research into the births of stars and galaxies. The book should interest anyone who is curious about astronomy, space missions, and how astronomy is done in practice. It is designed to be easy to read and does not require any previous scientific background\"-- Provided by publisher.
BOOK
Astronomical collections in Observatories: promoting preventive conservation
The practice of preventive conservation of cultural heritage consists of “all measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimizing future deterioration or loss” of it (ICOM-CC, 2008). Unlike conservation treatments, preventive conservation deals with entire collections and their surrounding environment. It is known that exposing historical objects to the environment has a significant impact on their degradation process. Studying and managing risk factors is an indispensable practice within the management policies of any cultural institution. The National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) holds some valuable historical collections, heritage derived from the Italian contribution to astronomy over the centuries. The management and protection of these collections faces many challenges. A preventive conservation plan, aimed at assessing and managing risks that threaten the collections, may offer many long-term benefits, allowing us to use available resources in the best possible way. In the past few years INAF-Astronomical Observatory “G.S.Vaiana” of Palermo has been working on the development of preventive conservation projects for its archival, bibliographic and scientific heritage. The present contribution reports on these ongoing experiences and intends to stimulate a discussion within the scientific community in order to individuate the problems we are called to respond to in Astronomical Observatories.
Journal Article
Climatological Study for the Cherenkov Telescope Array North Site at the Canary Islands I: Temperature, Precipitation, and Relative Humidity
We obtained climate normals over a period of 10 years (2003-2012) at Izaña (2395 m), Tenerife (Spain) with the aim of characterizing the mesoscale climate conditions governing the two astronomical observatories in the Canary Islands: Teide Observatory, located on the summit of Izaña and Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), approximately 140 km away, on the island of La Palma. Both sites are at the same height ( 2300 m) and share very similar regional climatological conditions. The study was carried out as part of the site selection campaign for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) in the northern hemisphere, which was finally installed at the ORM. We used long-term and high-quality climate data series recorded by the Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña (CIAI) at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO; WMO#60010). In this paper, we analyze the temperature (central tendency, maxima, minima, and ranges), precipitation (intensities per hour and daily, monthly, and yearly cumulative), and relative humidity. The precipitation data are divided into liquid, snow, and hail. All the results are presented in triplicate, covering the whole series, nighttime, and daytime. The results show a smooth temperature profile with sporadic but moderate extremes, a low daily (24 h) temperature range (median 7.1 °C), and extremely low nighttime temperature range (median 2.7 °C). Rainfall is very rare and sporadic (287 mm a−1), with low intensities. The relative humidity is also low (median 29% and 25th percentile 15%) and follows the precipitation cycle. These results confirm the stability and optimal conditions required to fully operate CTA and other astronomical facilities. The requirements specified in the CTA project documentation are fulfilled.
Journal Article
Key Science Goals for the Next-Generation Event Horizon Telescope
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has led to the first images of a supermassive black hole, revealing the central compact objects in the elliptical galaxy M87 and the Milky Way. Proposed upgrades to this array through the next-generation EHT (ngEHT) program would sharply improve the angular resolution, dynamic range, and temporal coverage of the existing EHT observations. These improvements will uniquely enable a wealth of transformative new discoveries related to black hole science, extending from event-horizon-scale studies of strong gravity to studies of explosive transients to the cosmological growth and influence of supermassive black holes. Here, we present the key science goals for the ngEHT and their associated instrument requirements, both of which have been formulated through a multi-year international effort involving hundreds of scientists worldwide.
Journal Article