Robotic optical telescopes global network MASTER II. Equipment, structure, algorithms

TL;DR

The paper details the design, implementation, and testing of the MASTER II robotic optical telescope network, aimed at studying gamma-ray burst optical emissions and conducting sky surveys for transient phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a new global robotic telescope network with multiple sites, enhancing the ability to observe transient astronomical events in real-time.

Findings

Network covers over 6 hours of longitude.

Telescope sites installed and tested successfully.

Potential for network expansion to improve coverage.

Abstract

Presented paper describes the basic principles and features of the implementation of a robotic network of optical telescopes MASTER, designed to study the prompt (simultaneous with gamma radiation) optical emission of gamma-ray bursts and to perform the sky survey to detect unknown objects and transient phenomena. With joint efforts of Sternberg astronomical institute, High altitude astronomical station of the Pulkovo observatory, Ural state university, Irkutsk state university, Blagoveshchensk pedagogical university, the robotic telescopes MASTER II near Kislovodsk, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Blagoveshchensk were installed and tested. The network spread over the longitudes is greater than 6 hours. A further expansion of the network is considered.