ESTAR
Encyclopedia
The eSTAR project is a multi-agent system
that aims to implement a true heterogeneous network of robotic telescope
s for automated observing. The project is a joint collaboration between the Astrophysics Group of the University of Exeter
and the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University
.
In 2006 work began on an autonomous software agent
for observations of variable stars. This agent implements the optimal sampling technique of Saunders et al. (2006) and the prototype was successfully tested on the RoboNet network of telescopes which includes: the Liverpool Telescope
, the Faulkes Telescope North
and the Faulkes Telescope South
.
eSTAR is affiliated with the RoboNet Consortium and the global Heterogeneous Telescope Networks Consortium.
As of 2007 eSTAR is "live" supporting two real-time observing projects. Automated followup observations of gamma ray bursts are performed using the 3.8m UKIRT telescope situated in Hawai'i
, making this telescope the largest in the world, with an automated response system for tracking such events.
eSTAR is also involved in the search for extra-solar planets by placing observations on the RoboNet
system of telescopes on behalf of the PLANET
collaboration. The technique of gravitational microlensing
is used to monitor large numbers of stars in the galactic bulge looking for the tell-tale signature of cool planets orbiting those stars.
Multi-agent system
A multi-agent system is a system composed of multiple interacting intelligent agents. Multi-agent systems can be used to solve problems that are difficult or impossible for an individual agent or a monolithic system to solve...
that aims to implement a true heterogeneous network of robotic telescope
Robotic telescope
A robotic telescope is an astronomical telescope and detector system that makes observations without the intervention of a human. In astronomical disciplines, a telescope qualifies as robotic if it makes those observations without being operated by a human, even if a human has to initiate the...
s for automated observing. The project is a joint collaboration between the Astrophysics Group of the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
and the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
.
In 2006 work began on an autonomous software agent
Software agent
In computer science, a software agent is a piece of software that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere : an agreement to act on one's behalf...
for observations of variable stars. This agent implements the optimal sampling technique of Saunders et al. (2006) and the prototype was successfully tested on the RoboNet network of telescopes which includes: the Liverpool Telescope
Liverpool Telescope
The Liverpool Telescope is a fully robotic telescope that observes autonomously, i.e. it operates without human intervention. Professional astronomers and other registered users submit observation specifications to be considered by the telescope's robotic control system at any time of the day or...
, the Faulkes Telescope North
Faulkes Telescope North
The Faulkes Telescope North is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope, and is located at Haleakala Observatory in the U.S. state of Hawaii.The telescope is owned and operated by LCOGT. This telescope and its sister telescope Faulkes Telescope South are used by research and education groups across the...
and the Faulkes Telescope South
Faulkes Telescope South
The Faulkes Telescope South is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope and is located at Siding Spring Observatory. It is a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope....
.
eSTAR is affiliated with the RoboNet Consortium and the global Heterogeneous Telescope Networks Consortium.
As of 2007 eSTAR is "live" supporting two real-time observing projects. Automated followup observations of gamma ray bursts are performed using the 3.8m UKIRT telescope situated in Hawai'i
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, making this telescope the largest in the world, with an automated response system for tracking such events.
eSTAR is also involved in the search for extra-solar planets by placing observations on the RoboNet
RoboNet
RoboNet-1.0 was a prototype global network of UK-built 2-metre robotic telescopes, the largest of their kind in the world, comprising the Liverpool Telescope on La Palma , the Faulkes Telescope North on Maui , and the Faulkes Telescope South in Australia, managed by a consortium of ten UK...
system of telescopes on behalf of the PLANET
Probing Lensing Anomalies Network
The Probing Lensing Anomalies NETwork collaboration coordinates a network of telescopes to rapidly sample photometric measurements of the magnification of stars in the galactic bulge undergoing gravitational microlensing by intervening foreground stars...
collaboration. The technique of gravitational microlensing
Gravitational microlensing
Gravitational microlensing is an astronomical phenomenon due to the gravitational lens effect. It can be used to detect objects ranging from the mass of a planet to the mass of a star, regardless of the light they emit. Typically, astronomers can only detect bright objects that emit lots of light ...
is used to monitor large numbers of stars in the galactic bulge looking for the tell-tale signature of cool planets orbiting those stars.