Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope

Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope

Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) is a non-profit private operating foundation directed by the technologist Wayne Rosing. It aims to build a global network of longitudinally spaced robotic telescopes for scientific and educational use. At present, the nascent network comprises two fully operational, science-grade telescopes, the 2m Faulkes Telescopes North and South.

Although the final telescope breakdown is presently in flux, it is likely that the network will have approximately:
* ~forty 0.4 meter telescopes arranged in clusters of 4 that are primarily for educational uses, but also science capable.
* ~twenty 1-meter telescopes that are primarily for science use, but also capable of educational use, in clusters of 3 at 6 sites around the world in the North & South hemispheres
* two or more 2-meter telescopes allowing 24/7 high quality observations of time variable astrophysical and solar system phenomena for both scientific research and education.

At any time, any object of interest should be accessible from 2-4 of the planned site-clusters.

Examples of current science being performed with the network includes extra-solar planet work, particularly transit timing and followup and microlensing followup (in collaboration with the RoboNet-1.0 project).

Accompanying the educational network will be a vast library of resources and projects. The goal of the educational arm of the project is not to make more astronomers, but to create an awareness for science and technology, and to foster the ability to think critically about the world around us.

Research:

LCOGT will concentrate on time-varying astronomy. Initially, LCOGT started with a strong concentration of astronomers studying extra solar planets. Science Director Timothy Brown was on the team that observed the first transiting extra solar planet, and has been a leader in transiting planet research. LCOGT's first staff astronomer, Stuart Taylor, established LCOGT's still ongoing project on transit timing variations (TTVs), now led by Marton Hidas.

Having a world-wide network of telescopes will mean there will be a telescope available for time-certain events. The flexibility to measure transits from multiple longitudes are an example of the advantage of having telescopes spaced around the earth, hence TTV research is an early priority.

LCOGT supports software research aiming to make continuous observing as seamless as possible.

External links

* [http://www.lcogt.net/ Las Cumbres Observatory, Inc. official website]


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