Goddard Robotic Telescope

Abstract

We are constructing the 14″ fully automated optical robotic telescope, Goddard Robotic Telescope (GRT), at the Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory. The aims of our robotic telescope are 1) to follow‐up the Swift/Fermi Gamma‐Ray Bursts (GRBs) and 2) to perform the coordinated optical observations of the Fermi/Large Area Telescope (LAT) Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Our telescope system consists of the 14″ Celestron Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA), the Astro‐Physics 1200GTO mount, the Apogee U47 CCD camera, the JMI’s electronic focuser, and the Finger Lake Instrumentation’s color filter wheel with U, B, V, R and I filters. With the focal reducer, 20′×20′ field of view has been achieved. The observatory dome is the Astro Haven’s 7 ft clam‐shell dome. We started the scientific observations on mid‐November 2008. While not observing our primary targets (GRBs and AGNs), we are planning to open our telescope time to the public for having a wider use of our telescope in both a different research field and an educational purpose.