U-SmART: Small Aperture Robotic Telescopes for Universities

Abstract

A group of universities have come together with the aim of designing and developing small aperture robotic telescopes (SmART) for use by students to observe variable stars and transient follow-ups. The group is deliberating on the components of the robotic system e.g. the telescope, the mount, the back-end camera, control software etc and their integration keeping in mind the scientific objectives. The Marburg group is studying variable stars using photometric and spectroscopic observations in a small local observatory and via analysis of photo plate archival data mainly from Sonneberg observatory (Thuringa, Germany). Our goal is to setup a small, affordable observatory at Marburg University with full remote access to all components, including a spectrometer. Among others, the future measurements can be follow-ups, of variable stars, exoplanet search and spectroscopic measurements, e.g. in cooperation with the BRITEconstellation. We would like to invite other universities to join the project and cooperate in setting up a University network of small aperture robotic telescopes (U-SmART) around the globe.