Astronomical Society of Coonabarabran

COONABARABRAN’S FAULKES TELESCOPE WILL HELP TO KEEP ASTRONOMERS IN THE DARK

by Liz Cutts

To be kept in the dark is not a circumstance welcomed by most people; but to an astronomer the ability to observe the skies around the clock, any time, any day wherever the sun is not shining is an exciting prospect.

The Faulkes Telescope project at Siding Spring is about to become part of a global network of robotic telescopes spaced around world to allow continuous high quality observations of cosmic and solar system phenomena that will literally keep astronomers in the dark.

Constructed as a unique educational tool, the Faulkes Telescope South in Coonabarabran was originally designed to bring astronomy directly into the classroom. However, due to a construction problem and the costs involved in correcting it, the Faulkes has been sold and modification work undertaken by new owners, Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO).

The Faulkes Telescope was built by Telescope Technologies Limited (TTL), now a wholly owned subsidiary of LCO.

“Las Cumbres Observatory, Inc. is a nonprofit organization building a global network of telescopes both for scientific research and education,” explained John Shobbrook, site manager for the Faulkes Telescope South.

“The original construction fault that was built into the telescope foundations by a sub-contractor has been corrected. Pointing tests have been carried out and the technicians from LCO say that as far as accuracy pointing to objects in the sky, this is the best in their fleet.

“At the moment we are in the process of upgrading and replacing computer systems and enhancements to the telescope enclosure have been carried out. On-sky testing will be carried out remotely from the UK soon.”

Unlike the classical domed telescope enclosure, the Faulkes South opens like a clamshell and leaves the telescope completely exposed during use.

“The Faulkes South will be superior to the Faulkes North Telescope, an identical observatory in Hawaii, and it will become the standard for all LCO telescopes,” added Mr. Shobbrook.

“The innovative enclosure is a good system. By exposing the whole telescope to the night air the problem of heat build up in the traditional dome enclosure is eliminated. It is important that the telescope maintains the same temperature as the outside air as soon as possible; with the traditional dome it can take a few hours for the heat inside to dissipate through the small aperture. It is impossible to acquire and accurate and crisp image of objects if the temperature of telescope is not the same as outside.

“The aperture of the Faulkes mirror is two metres; it is not one of the biggest telescopes in the world, but certainly one of the largest in the robotic category.

“The whole telescope system is designed to operate automatically. An international control centre will send instructions via a high speed phone line stating which observations are to be carried out. The telescope control system will then decide if the weather is good enough to open the enclosure, point the telescope and take the images requested, then move on to the next observation. At the end of night, or if the weather deteriorates, the enclosure automatically closes. Maintenance will be restricted to occasional cleaning and lubrication.”

Window on the Universe
Dill Faulkes, a British businessman, generously donated funds to build the two professional-class robotic telescopes to bring spectacular images of the northern and southern skies to school children in the UK, Australia and USA. Las Cumbres Observatory will not only continue with the educational program but, using their global telescope network will be able to provide unique observing opportunities for international scientists studying time-varying astronomical phenomena.

Because the comprehensive coverage of the sky, the Global Telescope Network will enable astronomers to find and investigate fast-moving or short-lived celestial objects, such as supernovae, active galaxies, variable stars, comets, asteroids, gamma ray bursts and much more.

Using the Global Telescope Network, observations can be made of any celestial object that require long exposures or multi-day tracking; basically non-stop observing. There will always be at least one, although more likely several, telescopes in the dark at any given time.

“The motto for LCO is ‘We will always be able to keep you in the dark’,” continued Mr. Shobbrook. “That is the intention, to provide astronomers with twenty-four hours of dark time through the development of their global robotic telescope network.

“Most objects in the universe vary with time and traveling from telescope site to telescope site is tiresome, expensive and often, due to inclement weather conditions, unproductive.

“Robotic observing from anywhere in the world has enormous advantages. A robotic telescope network at logically space latitudes and longitudes ensure that observers are always kept in the dark. The global system will speed up research because an object can be observed continuously and there is no traveling involved.

“There is no doubt that this is the best possible way to observe, but, until now, no one has had the funding to build multiple robotic telescopes around the world. The global system will open vast new research opportunities.

“LCO are planning to have five or six two metre telescopes, as well as ten one metre telescopes and fifty half metre telescopes around the globe. The educational network will be open and free of charge to schools.”

The Global Telescope Network concept has been developed by LCO founder, director and technical guru Wayne Rosing, a legendary figure in the computer industry and a keen astronomer.

Rosing's resume includes some of the biggest-name companies in Silicon Valley and some of the most significant advances of the past three decades. He was until recently senior vice president for engineering and an adviser at Google. Early in his career, he held positions at Digital Equipment Corporation and Data General. At Apple, he led the team that developed Apple Lisa, the first commercial computer with a graphical interface, launched in 1983. At Sun Microsystems he launched the SPARC workstation and founded a subsidiary company, Sun Microsystems Laboratories. As president of another Sun spin-off, FirstPerson, he headed the effort to create the Java Web-programming language.

"Wayne Rosing has made transformational contributions to the computer industry,” emphasized Mr. Shobbrook. “He is now making an equivalent impact on the field of cosmic science through his expertise in engineering and management and his passion for astronomy.

“LCO believe that by teaching astronomy, you are introducing all the other sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, engineering, as well as viewing the cosmos from art and literature.”

Currently there are nearly one thousand registered users of the Faulkes Telescopes. Projects vary from schools to community groups and professional astronomers. A global network of robotic optical telescopes will not only provide continuous sky coverage and the ability to treat the network as a single instrument, but also provide the resources for cutting edge science in collaboration with other organizations.
John Shobbrook is proud of the local skills that have been tapped into and utilized for the Faulkes project.

“Siding Spring Observatory is part of the Coonabarabran community and we appreciate the tremendous support local we have received,” concluded Mr. Shobbrook. “We are very fortunate to have local trades people, like Jason Newton and Guy Andrews, who have the skills needed for this project. This observatory would not be here without these local talents and the support of the technical staff at Siding Spring.

“A great deal of excitement is being generated over the Global Robotic Telescope Network; it is an exhilarating and creative new venture.

“We are in a period of remarkable progress in cosmology springing from revolutionary advances in technology. The Global Telescope Network will open up an entirely new window on our universe.”

More information on the Global Telescope Network project and Las Cumbres Observatory in California can be found by visiting; www.lcogt.net.


	Faulkes Telescope: Unlike the classical domed telescope enclosure, the Faulkes Telescope South at the Siding Spring Observatory complex opens like a clamshell and leaves the telescope completely exposed during use.

Complete Telescope: The Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring recently underwent modification work and will soon be part of the Global Robotic Telescope Network.	Telescope Parts: Equipment upgrades to the Faulkes Telescope had to be carefully hoisted into position.