Commissioning and improvements of the instrumentation and launch of the scientific exploitation of OARPAF, the Regional Astronomical Observatory of the Antola Park

TL;DR

This paper details the commissioning, site characterization, and scientific potential of the OARPAF observatory, including instrument calibration and initial results in various astrophysical research areas.

Contribution

It reports the first comprehensive characterization and instrumental setup of the OARPAF observatory, enabling diverse scientific and educational applications.

Findings

Site background brightness measured at 22.40 mag/arcsec^2 in B filter

CCD detectors characterized for linearity, gain, and dark current

Potential scientific applications include exoplanet transits and AGN variability

Abstract

The \oarpaf telescope is an $80\rm cm$-diameter optical telescope installed in the Antola Mount Regional Reserve, in Northern Italy. This work presents the results of the characterization of the site, as well as developments and interventions that have been implemented, with the goal of exploiting the facility for scientific and educational purposes. During the characterization of the site, an average background brightness of $22.40 \, m_{AB}$ ($B$ filter) -- $21.14 \, m_{AB}$ ($I$) per arcsecond squared, and a $1.5$--$3.0"$ seeing, have been measured. An estimate of the magnitude zero points for photometry is also reported. The material under commissioning includes 3 CCD detectors for which we provide the linearity range, gain, and dark current; a 31 orders \'echelle Northern Italy. This work presents the results of the characterization of the site, as well as developments andspectrograph with $R\sim 8500$--$15000$, and a dispersion of $n = 1.39\times 10^{-6}\rm px^{-1}\lambda + 1.45\times 10^{-4}\rm nm/px$, where $\lambda$ is expressed in $\rm nm$. The scientific and outreach potential of the facility is proven in different science cases, such as exoplanetary transits and active galactic nuclei variability. The determination of time delays of gravitationally lensed quasars, the microlensing phenomenon and the tracking and the study of asteroids are also discussed as prospective science cases.