India’s First Robotic Eye for Time-domain Astrophysics: The GROWTH-India Telescope

Authors

Harsh Kumar, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Varun Bhalerao, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
G. C. Anupama, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Sudhanshu Barway, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Judhajeet Basu, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Kunal Deshmukh, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Kishalay De, California Institute of Technology
Anirban Dutta, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Christoffer Fremling, California Institute of Technology
Hrishikesh Iyer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Adeem Jassani, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Simran Joharle, Fergusson College
Viraj Karambelkar, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Maitreya Khandagale, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
K. Adithya Krishna, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Sumeet Kulkarni, University of Mississippi
Sujay Mate, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Atharva Patil, National Central University
D. V. S. Phanindra, Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2022

Abstract

We present the design and performance of the GROWTH-India telescope, a 0.7 m robotic telescope dedicated to time-domain astronomy. The telescope is equipped with a 4k back-illuminated camera that gives a 0.°82 field of view and a sensitivity of m g′ ∼ 20.5 in 5 minute exposures. Custom software handles observatory operations: attaining high on-sky observing efficiencies (≳80%) and allowing rapid response to targets of opportunity. The data processing pipelines are capable of performing point-spread function photometry as well as image subtraction for transient searches. We also present an overview of the GROWTH-India telescope’s contributions to the studies of gamma-ray bursts, the electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave sources, supernovae, novae, and solar system objects.

Relational Format

journal article

Recommended Citation

Kumar, H., Bhalerao, V., Anupama, G. C., Barway, S., Basu, J., Deshmukh, K., De, K., Dutta, A., Fremling, C., Iyer, H., Jassani, A., Joharle, S., Karambelkar, V., Khandagale, M., Krishna, K. A., Kulkarni, S., Mate, S., Patil, A., Phanindra, D., … Stanzin, U. (2022). India’s first robotic eye for time-domain astrophysics: The growth-india telescope. The Astronomical Journal, 164(3), 90. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac7bea

DOI

10.3847/1538-3881/ac7bea

Accessibility Status

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