Bootes 3: first two years of GRB follow-ups in New Zealand

J. C. Tello1*, A. de Ugarte Postigo2, R. Sánchez-Ramírez1, M. Jelínek1, J. Gorosabel1, P. Kubánek1,3, R. Cunniffe1, S. Guziy1, W. Allen4, Ph. Yock5, Kuan-Yu Lin5, A. J. Castro-Tirado1, R. Fernández6, and C. Pérez del Pulgar7
1Instituto de Astrof´ısica de Andaluc´ıa C.S.I.C., Glorieta de la Astronoma s/n, 18008, Granada, Spain
2Dark Cosmology Centre Neils Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
3Institute of Physics, Prague, c 251 65 Ondrejov, Czech Republic
4Vintage Lane Observatory, Blenheim, New Zealand
5Auckland University, Private Bag 92019 Auckland 1142 New Zealand
6EELM-CSIC, Algarrobo Costa, Málaga
7University de M´alaga, Avenida Cervantes, 2, 29071 Mlaga, Spain

View Full Article: [PDF]

Abstract

BOOTES-3 is the first robotic observatory located in the southern hemisphere of the BOOTES (Burst Observer and Optical Transient Exploring System) network. It was inaugurated in February of 2009, beginning its operations promptly after. It’s located nearby Blenheim, New Zealand.

The main scientific objective is observation and follow-up of the optical counterparts of GRBs (Gamma Ray Bursts), responding to an alert in a quick and completely autonomous manner. For this it is equipped with a high-speed pointing mount (6-10 seconds), and the whole observatory is controlled by the RTS-2 (Remote Telescope System 2) software. Being at Spain’s antipode, this observatory complements the coverage of the Spanish BOOTES telescopes.

Bootes 3: first two years of GRB follow-ups in New Zealand
Fig. 1


<< Previous | Next Article >>Back to Asics_Vol_007

Keywords : BOOTES – Robotic telescope – GRB – afterglow.