The Liverpool Telescope (LT) is a two-metre-aperture robotic

Ritchey–Chrétien telescope A Ritchey–Chrétien telescope (RCT or simply RC) is a specialized variant of the Cassegrain telescope that has a hyperbolic primary mirror and a hyperbolic secondary mirror designed to eliminate off-axis optical errors (coma). The RCT has a wi ...

that observes autonomously (without human intervention). However professional astronomers, school groups and other credible registered users submit specifications to be considered by its robotic control system (RCS) at any time using an online

graphical user interface The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...

. Each night the RCS decides among these choices, and among any notified or glimpsed transient events, what to observe, based on target visibility and weather conditions. The telescope had first light in 2003, and is the brainchild and property of

Liverpool John Moores University , mottoeng = Fortune favours the bold , established = 1823 – Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts1992 – Liverpool John Moores University , type = Public , endowment = , coor ...

Description

The RCS has a rapid-response capability where it will often automatically interrupt regular observations to slew (shift) to observe short-lived events with higher priority, such as gamma-ray bursts. The LT is one of the largest robotic telescopes in the world and was built by a subsidiary set up by

who own and masterminded it. It is operated (maintained) by the

Astrophysics Research Institute The Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) is an astronomy and astrophysics research institute in Merseyside, UK. Formed in 1992, it stood on the Twelve Quays site in Birkenhead from 1998 until June 2013 when it relocated to the Liverpool Scie ...

, partly funded by the UK's

STFC The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a United Kingdom government agency that carries out research in science and engineering, and funds UK research in areas including particle physics, nuclear physics, space science and astro ...

. It is at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma. Along with the

Faulkes Telescope North The Faulkes Telescope North is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope, and is located at Haleakala Observatory in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is a f/10 Ritchey-Chrétien telescope. The telescope is owned and operated by LCOGT. This telescope and ...

and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

, it is available for use by school children around the world over the internet. The registration and time allocation for the LT is organised by the National Schools Observatory. The Liverpool Telescope is one of the primary players in the Heterogeneous Telescope Networks Consortium, a global collaboration between major research groups in the field of robotic telescopes which seeks a standard for communication between remote telescopes, telescope users, and other scientific resources. Plans for an improved version, the Liverpool Telescope 2, are underway.

Notes and references

;Notes ;References

External links

Liverpool Telescope website

National Schools' Observatory
– allocates observing time to schools
RoboNet
– controls telescopes over the internet
Heterogeneous Telescope Networks Consortium
* {{LJMU Astronomical observatories in La Palma Astronomy in the United Kingdom Liverpool John Moores University Robotic telescopes Science and Technology Facilities Council

Description

See also

Notes and references

External links