ARAGO: A robotic observatory for the variable sky

Michel Boër, Agnès Acker, Jean Luc Atteia, Gilles Buchholtz, François Colas, Magali Deleuil, Michel Dennefeld, Jean Michel Desert, Noel Dolez, J. Eysseric, Roger Ferlet, Marc Ferrari, Pierre Jean, Alain Klotz, Driss Kouach, Alain Lecavelier Des Etangs, Gérard Lemaître, Alexandre Marcowith, Jean Baptiste Marquette, Jean Pierre MeunierRobert Mochkovitch, Raynald Pain, Laurent Pares, Henri Pinna, Roger Pinna, Lionel Provost, Sylvie Roques, Jean Schneider, Jean Pierre Sivan, Caroline Soubiran, Carole Thiébaut, Gérard Vauclair, Richard Verchère, Alfred Vidal-Madjar

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

We present the Advanced Robotic Agile Observatory (ARAGO), a project for a large variability survey of the sky, in the range 10-8 Hz (year) to 1Hz. Among its scientific objectives are the detection of cosmic gamma-ray bursts, both on alert and serendipitously, orphan afterglows, extrasolar planets, AGNs, quasar microlensing, variable and flare stars, trans-neptunian asteroids, Earth-grazers, orbital debris, etc. A large Education and Public Outreach program will be an important part of the project. The telescope itself will be made of Silicon Carbide, allowing, among other advantages, a very light weight and agile capabilities. ARAGO will be fully autonomous, i.e. there will be no human intervention from the request to the data processing and result dissemination, nor to assist night or day operations. ARAGO will start routine observation by mid-2005.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)138-145
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume4836
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2002
Externally publishedYes
EventSurvey and Other Telescope Technologies and Discoveries - Waikoloa, HI, United States
Duration: 27 Aug 200228 Aug 2002

Keywords

  • Gamma-rays : burst
  • Planets: extrasolar
  • Stars : variable
  • Telescopes: robotic
  • Wide-field astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'ARAGO: A robotic observatory for the variable sky'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this