The Zadko Observatory

TL;DR

The Zadko Observatory, equipped with a 1-meter telescope, has contributed to astrophysics through gamma-ray burst detection, asteroid imaging, and space debris tracking, while also serving educational and outreach purposes.

Contribution

This paper details the development, operational management, and multi-instrument capabilities of the Zadko Observatory, highlighting its diverse scientific and educational roles.

Findings

Detected numerous gamma-ray burst afterglows.

Imaged the most distant optical transients by an Australian telescope.

Contributed to space weather monitoring and asteroid imaging.

Abstract

The 1.0 metre f/4 fast-slew Zadko Telescope was installed in June 2008 approximately seventy kilometres north of Perth at Yeal, in the Shire of Gingin, Western Australia. Since the Zadko Telescope has been in operation it has proven its worth by detecting numerous Gamma Ray Burst afterglows, two of these being the most distant `optical transients' imaged by an Australian telescope. Other projects include a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to image potentially hazardous near Earth asteroids (2019), monitoring space weather on nearby stars (2019), and photometry of a transit of Saturn's moon Titan (2018). Another active Zadko Telescope project is tracking Geo-stationary satellites and attempting to use photometry to classify various space debris (defunct satellites). The Zadko Telescope's importance as a potential tool for education, training, and public outreach cannot be underestimated, as the global awareness of the importance of astronomy (and space science) as a context for teaching science continues to increase. An example of this was the national media coverage of its contribution to the discovery of colliding neutron stars in 2017, capturing the imagination of the public. In this proceeding, I will focus on the practical aspects of managing a robotic Observatory, focusing on the sustainability of the Observatory and the technical management involved in hosting different commercial projects. I will review the evolution of the Observatory, from its early, single instrument, state to its current multi-telescope and multi-instrument capabilities. I will finish by outlining the future of the Observatory and the site.