Seeing at Timau National Observatory Based on ERA5 Dataset

TL;DR

This study assesses long-term atmospheric data from ERA5 to evaluate the seeing conditions at Timau National Observatory, informing its observational planning and operational prospects.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of atmospheric seeing conditions at Timau using ERA5 data, highlighting seasonal variability and data accuracy.

Findings

Median seeing of 0.79 arcseconds at Timau

Optimal seeing in March and December

Data shows good agreement with radiosonde measurements

Abstract

Understanding the seeing conditions is crucial for astronomical observations using a ground-based telescope. This study analyzes long-term atmospheric data (2002-2021) from the ERA5 dataset to assess the seeing conditions at the new Timau National Observatory in Indonesia, which will house a 3.8-meter optical telescope. While the ERA5 dataset shows good agreement with radiosonde data for temperature and wind speed, it tends to underestimate seeing at Eltari Airport, Kupang. Despite this discrepancy, the ERA5 data suggest a median seeing of 0.79 arcseconds at Timau, with optimal seeing conditions in March and December and greater variability during the May to September dry season. These findings are crucial for the planning and operation of the observatory, which requires excellent seeing conditions for its three-band optical imager and a near-infrared camera. Although the seeing at Timau is not as good as some other observatories, the conditions at Timau make it an observatory that has good prospects for equatorial regions.