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Roboscope

Copied from http://www.astro.indiana.edu/roboscope.html

Images are located at the bottom of this page.

RoboScope is a 16-inch automated telescope located 16 miles north of campus at the Morgan-Monroe Station of the Goethe Link Observatories. It is devoted to long-term monitoring of cataclysmic variable stars and related objects, typically obtaining one or two 4-min exposures each clear night for about 100 objects per night. The original manual Boller and Chivens telescope was automated in 1989 and has operated autonomously since 1990.

Latitude: +39 18 49
Longitude: -86 26.4
Elevation: 245-m
Aperture: 41-cm
Optical Configuration: f/13.7 Cassegrain
Plate Scale: 41"/mm
Detector: Liquid nitrogen cooled, thinned CCD,
512x512 pixels, each pixel 24 microns.
Filters: U,B,V,R,I
Field of View: Approx 7 arc min with the current CCD
Open loop setting accuracy: 15" rms
Typical exposure time: 240 sec, open loop tracking
Typical mag limit: V = 18 on a moonless night

All functions are performed in an unattended and unsupervised fashion, including:
-- Open-up and Close-down decisions, based on a Polaris tranparency monitor and rain detector.
-- Choosing the next object, based on location in sky and when last observed
-- Telescope motion and dome control
-- Filter selection and telescope focus
-- Obtaining and applying flat-field detector calibrations
-- finding and measuring all the stars in each image
-- identifying the program star and performing ensemble photometry
-- updating the light curves

The RoboScope publication list appended below includes descriptions of the instrumentation (denoted by *) and science done with the telescope.

* "Devices for Observatory Automation", Honeycutt, R.K., Adams, B.R., Swearingen, D.J. & Kopp, W.R. 1994, PASP, 106, 670

* "The Indiana University CCD-APT System", Honeycutt K., Adams, B., Grabhorn, R., Turner, G., White, J. & Vesper, D.. 1989, in Remote Access Automatic Telescopes, ed. D.S. Hayes & R.M Genet (Mesa, Fairborn Press), 105

* "A System for Unattended CCD Photometry", Honeycutt, R.K., Vesper, D.N., White, J.G., Turner, G.W. & Adams, B.R. 1990, in CCDs in Astronomy. II., ed. D.S. Hayes & A.G.D. Philip (Schenectady, L. Davis), 177

* "Architecture of the Software for the Indiana CCD Automated Telescope", Honeycutt, R.K. & Turner, G.W. 1992, in Robotic Telescopes in the 1990's, ASP Conf Series Vol. 34, ed. A.V. Filippenko (San Francisco, ASP), 77

"MR Persei: A New Rotating, Spotted Flare Star", Honeycutt, R.K., Turner, G.W., Vesper, D.N. & Schlegel, E.M. 1992, PASP, 104, 1039

* "CCD Ensemble Photometry on an Inhomogeneous Set of Exposures", Honeycutt, R.K. 1992, PASP, 104, 435

"A Probable RV Tauri Star Near HR Del", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Vesper, D.N., Kern, B.D., Turner, G.W. & Pier, J.R. 1992, IBVS No. 3795.

* "Automated Stellar Photometry", Honeycutt, K. 1993, in New Frontiers in Binary Star Research, ASP Conf Series Vol. 38, ed. J.C. Leung & I.-S. Nha (San Francisco, ASP), 45

*"The Unusual 1992 Outburst of V630 Cassiopeiae", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Turner, G.W. & Vesper, D.N. 1993, PASP, 105, 919

*"The Long-Term Light Curve of the Cataclysmic Variable DW Ursae Majoris", Honeycutt, R.K, Livio, M. & Robertson, J.W. 1993, PASP, 105, 922

* "Unattended H-alpha Spectroscopy of P Cygni and Beta Lyrae", Honeycutt, R.K., Turner, G.W., Vesper, D.N., Robertson, J.W. & White, J.C. 1993, PASP, 105, 426

"The High-State/Low-State Transition in V794 Aquilae", Honeycutt, R.K., Cannizzo, J.K. & Robertson, J. W. 1994, ApJ, 425, 835

"Spectroscopy and Photometry of the Dwarf Nova BZ Ursae Majoris and the CV Linewidth/K, Mass-Ratio Relation", Jurcevic, J.S., Honeycutt, R.K. Schelgel, E.M. & Webbink, R.F. 1994, PASP, 106, 481

"The Unusual Long-Term Repetitive Light Curve of RZ Leonis Minoris", Robertson, J.W., Honeycutt, R.K. & Turner, G.W. 1994, in Interacting Binary Stars, ASP Conf Series Vol 56, ed. A.W. Shafter (San Francisco, ASP), 298

* "An Integrated Program for Automated CCD Photometry and Spectroscopy", Honeycutt, K. 1994, in Optical Astronomy from the Earth and Moon, ASP Conf Series Vol 55, ed. D.M. Pyper & J. Angione (San Francisco, ASP), 103

"Automated Long-Term Photometry of Cataclymic Variables", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Turner, G.W. & Vesper, D.N. 1994, in Interacting Binary Stars, ASP Conf Series Vol 56, ed. A.W. Shafter (San Francisco, ASP), 277

"Periodic and Near-Periodic Decaday Light Curves in Old Nova and Nova-like CVs", Honeycutt, R.K, Robertson, J.W. & Turner, G.W. 1995, in Cataclysmic Variables, ed. A. Bianchini et al. (Dordrecht, Kluwer), 75

"The Optical, Infrared and Radio Light Curves of OJ287 During Winter 1993-94", Kidger, M. et al. 1994, in Workshop on Intensive Montitoring of OJ287, ed. M.R. Kidger & L.O. Takalo (Piikkio, Tuorla Observatory), 106

"The Light Curve of 3C 66A", Pursimo et al. 1994, in Workshop on Intensive Montitoring of OJ287, ed. M.R. Kidger & L.O. Takalo (Piikkio, Tuorla Observatory), 106

"Periodic Outbursts in the Old Nova V446 Herculis", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W. & Turner, G.W. 1995, ApJ, 446, 838

"RZ Leonis Minoris, PG 0943+521, and V1159 Orionis: Three Cataclysmic Variables with Similar and Unusual Outburst Behavior", Robertson, J.W., Honeycutt, R.K. & Turner, G.W. 1995, PASP, 107, 443

"The Light Curve of OJ 287", Sillanpaa, A. et al. 1994, in Workshop on Intensive Montitoring of OJ287, ed. M.R. Kidger & L.O. Takalo (Piikkio, Tuorla Observatory), 7

"Three Years of OJ 287 Photometry", Turner, G.W., Honeycutt, R.K. & Robertson, J.W. 1994, in Workshop on Intensive Montitoring of OJ287, ed. M.R. Kidger & L.O. Takalo (Piikkio, Tuorla Observatory), 7

"CI Aql: A New Short-Period Eclipsing Binary", Mennickent, R.E. & Honeycutt, R.K. 1995, IBVS No. 4232

"Montioring of 3C 66A during an Extended Outburst. I. The Light Curves", Takalo, L.O. et al. 1996, A&AS, 120, 313

"High-State/Low-State Photometric Behavior in the Quiescent Level of the Cataclysmic Variable HT Cassiopeiae", Robertson, J.W. & Honeycutt, R.K. 1996, AJ, 112, 2248

"Double-peak Structure in the Cyclic Optical Outbursts of Blazar OJ 287", Sillanpaa, A. et al. 1996, A&A, 315, L13

"Confirmation of the 12-year Optical Outburst Cycle in Blazar OJ 287", Sillanpaa, A. et al. 1996, A&A, 305, L17

"The Orbital Period of BK Lyncis (PG 0917+342)", Ringwald, F.W., Thorstensen, J.R., Honeycutt, R.K & Robertson, J.W. 1996, MNRAS, 278, 125

"The Orbital Period and Variability of the Dwarf Nova WW Ceti", Ringwald, F.W., Thorstensen, J.R., Honeycutt, R.K. & Smith, R.C. 1996, AJ, 111, 2077

"Light Curves of OJ 287, 3C 66A, AO 0235+164 and S5 0716+714 Observed during the OJ-94 Project", Sillanpaa, A. et al. 1996, in Workshop on Two Years of Intensive Monitoring of OJ 287 and 3C66A, ed L.O. Takalo (Tuorla, Univ. Turku), 7

"Light Curves of OJ287 and 3C66A", Sillanpaa, A. et al. 1997, in Multifrequency Monitoring of Blazars, ed. G. Tosti & L. Takalo (Perugia, Perugia Obs), 5

"High-State/Low-State Behavior in the Long-term Light Curve of V Sagittae", Robertson, J.W., Honeycutt, R.K. & Pier, J.R. 1997, AJ, 113, 787

"A Photometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Cataclysmic Variable SX Leonis Minoris in Quiescence and Superoutburst", Wagner, R.M., Thorstensen, J.R., Honeycutt, R.K., Howell, S.B., Kaitchuck, R.H.,
Kreidl, T.J., Robertson, J.W., Sion, E.M. & Starrfield, S.G. 1998, AJ, 115, 787

"Are Z Camelopardalis-type Dwarf Novae Brighter at Standstill?", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Turner, G.W. & Mattei, J.A. 1998, PASP, 110, 676

"Medium Resolution Echelle Spectrograph Design", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W. & Pier, J. R. 1998, in Optical Astronomical Instrumentation, SPIE Vol 3355, ed. , 696

"Multiyear Photometry and Orbital Spectroscopy of the New VY Scl Star PG 1000+667", Hillwig, T.C., Robertson, J.W. & Honeycutt, R.K. 1998, in Wild Stars in the Old West, ASP Conf Series Vol 137, ed. S. Howell et al. (San Francisco, ASP), 428

"Three Tests of the M-dot Dependence of the AD Limit Cycle, using Long-term CV Photometry", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Turner, G.W. & Mattei, J.A. 1998, in Wild Stars in the Old West, ASP Conf Series Vol 137, ed. S. Howell et al. (San Francisco, ASP), 428

"V446 Herculis (Nova Her 1960) is and Optical Triple: Implications for the Rusumption of Dwarf Nova Outbursts Following the Nova", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Turner, G.W. & Henden, A.A. 1998, ApJ, 495, 933

"Unusual 'Stunted' Outbursts in Old Novae and Nova-like Cataclysmic Variables", Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W. & Turner, G.W. 1998, ApJ, 115, 2527

"Spectroscopic and Photometric Analysis of the Nova-like Cataclysmic Variable PG 1000+667: A New VY Sculptoris Star", Hillwig, T.C., Robertson, J.W. & Honeycutt, R.K. 1998, AJ, 115, 2044

"Steps Toward Determination of the Size and Structure of the Broad-line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei. XII. Ground-based Monitoring of 3C 390.3", Dietrich, M. et al. 1998, ApJS, 115, 185

"The RXTE, ROSAT, IUE, EUVE, Optical Campaign Covering the 45 Day Supercycle of V1159 Ori", Szkody, P., Honeycutt, R.K., Robertson, J.W., Silber, A., Hoard, D.W., Pastwick, L., Hubeny, I., Cannizzo, J., Liller, W., Zissel, R., Walker, G., la Dous, C. & Drew, J. 1998, to appear in Variable Stars: New Frontiers, ed. J.A. Mattei (San Francisco, ASP)

"Multi-year Photometry and a Spectroscopic Orbital Period Search for the VY Scl-type Cataclysmic Variable V794 Aquilae", Honeycutt, R.K. & Robertson, J.W. 1998, to appear in AJ

Images

RoboScope Telescope CAPTION: RoboScope is a 41-cm (16-inch) automated telescope in central Indiana that is equipped for long-term monitoring of changes in the accretion in cataclysmic variable stars.

Cataclysmic Variable CAPTION: This artist's rendition of a cataclysmic variable star shows the doner star transfering material through an accretion disk to a white dwarf star. Puzzling stunted outbursts from such systems were discovered by RoboScope.

UU Aquarius CAPTION: This long-term light curve of the nova-like cataclysmic varaible UU Aqr shows long slow changes in the mean brightness, occasional 2 magnitude dips due to eclipses, and 0.6 magnitude "stunted" outbursts. An expanded view of some the stunted outbursts are shown in an accompanying plot.

UUAqr, 3 stunted outbursts CAPTION: RoboScope has this a similar sequences of stunted outbursts in nova-like cataclysmic variable stars.This system, known as UU Aquarius, had a series of three stunted outbursts over a four month interval in late 1994.

ER UrsaeMajoris CAPTION: This long-term light curve of the SU UMa-type dwarf nova ER UMa shows many superoutburst cycles, each lasting about 43 days. An expanded view of a series of these cycles is shown in an accompanying plot.

ER UMa 3 supercycles CAPITON: This expanded view of a 1994 portion of the long-term light curve of the SU UMa-type cataclysmic varaible ER UMa show three successive supercycles. The system alternates between a sustained superoutbursts and series of faster dwarf nova outbursts each lasting about 4 days. ER UMa is seen to execute this same pattern in an unusually stable fashion for many years.

RoboScope Telescope	CAPTION: RoboScope is a 41-cm (16-inch) automated telescope in central Indiana that is equipped for long-term monitoring of changes in the accretion in cataclysmic variable stars.
Cataclysmic Variable	CAPTION: This artist's rendition of a cataclysmic variable star shows the doner star transfering material through an accretion disk to a white dwarf star. Puzzling stunted outbursts from such systems were discovered by RoboScope.
UU Aquarius	CAPTION: This long-term light curve of the nova-like cataclysmic varaible UU Aqr shows long slow changes in the mean brightness, occasional 2 magnitude dips due to eclipses, and 0.6 magnitude "stunted" outbursts. An expanded view of some the stunted outbursts are shown in an accompanying plot.
UUAqr, 3 stunted outbursts	CAPTION: RoboScope has this a similar sequences of stunted outbursts in nova-like cataclysmic variable stars.This system, known as UU Aquarius, had a series of three stunted outbursts over a four month interval in late 1994.
ER UrsaeMajoris	CAPTION: This long-term light curve of the SU UMa-type dwarf nova ER UMa shows many superoutburst cycles, each lasting about 43 days. An expanded view of a series of these cycles is shown in an accompanying plot.
ER UMa 3 supercycles	CAPITON: This expanded view of a 1994 portion of the long-term light curve of the SU UMa-type cataclysmic varaible ER UMa show three successive supercycles. The system alternates between a sustained superoutbursts and series of faster dwarf nova outbursts each lasting about 4 days. ER UMa is seen to execute this same pattern in an unusually stable fashion for many years.