The Robotic Super-LOTIS Telescope: Results & Future Plans

TL;DR

The paper discusses the Super-LOTIS robotic telescope's capabilities and results in observing gamma-ray burst afterglows, highlighting its automation and complementary role alongside other telescopes for early optical emission measurements.

Contribution

It introduces the fully robotic Super-LOTIS telescope, its operational results, and plans for automation to improve early GRB afterglow observations.

Findings

Super-LOTIS successfully observes early optical emission from GRBs.

The system operates automatically, providing rapid follow-up data.

Complementary observations with other telescopes enhance GRB studies.

Abstract

We provide an overview of the robotic Super-LOTIS (Livermore Optical Transient Imaging System) telescope and present results from gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow observations using Super-LOTIS and other Steward Observatory telescopes. The 0.6-m Super-LOTIS telescope is a fully robotic system dedicated to the measurement of prompt and early time optical emission from GRBs. The system began routine operations from its Steward Observatory site atop Kitt Peak in April 2000 and currently operates every clear night. The telescope is instrumented with an optical CCD camera and a four position filter wheel. It is capable of observing Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) error boxes as early or earlier than the Swift UV/Optical Telescope (UVOT). Super-LOTIS complements the UVOT observations by providing early R- and I-band imaging. We also use the suite of Steward Observatory telescopes including the 1.6-m Kuiper, the 2.3-m Bok, the 6.5-m MMT, and the 8.4-m Large Binocular Telescope to perform follow-up optical and near infrared observations of GRB afterglows. These follow-up observations have traditionally required human intervention but we are currently working to automate the 1.6-m Kuiper telescope to minimize its response time.