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The RCT 1.3-meter Robotic Telescope: Broad-band Color Transformation and Extinction Calibration
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- The RCT 1.3-meter telescope, formerly known as the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) 50-inch telescope, has been refurbished as a fully robotic telescope, using an autonomous scheduler to take full advantage of the observing site without the requirement of a human presence. Here we detail the current configuration of the RCT, and present as a demonstration of its high-priority science goals, the broadband {\it UBVRI} photometric calibration of the optical facility. In summary, we find the linear color transformation and extinction corrections to be consistent with similar optical KPNO facilities, to within a photometric precision of 10% (at $1\sigma$). While there were identified instrumental errors likely adding to the overall uncertainty, associated with since-resolved issues in engineering and maintenance of the robotic facility, a preliminary verification of this calibration gave good indication that the solution is robust, perhaps to a higher precision than this initial calibration implies. The RCT has been executing regular science operations since 2009, and is largely meeting the science requirements set in its acquisition and re-design.<br />Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures. Accepted by the Astronomical Journal
- Subjects :
- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.1312.6272
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/147/3/49