CHARACTERIZATION OF MODERN CCD AND CMOS SENSORS FOR SKY SURVEYS

Here we review the efforts we take in a newly established laboratory inside Institute of Physics in Prague in order to characterize modern large-format CCD and CMOS sensors for sky survey applications. While the laboratory is primarily established in order to participate in low-level CCD sensor characterization for LSST project, we also managed to perform a thorough laboratory testing of recently released Andor Marana sCMOS (which is especially interesting for wide-field sky monitoring applications due to its large format, backilluminated design, high achievable frame rate and low read-out noise), as well as detailed measurements of response non-linearity of Moravian Instruments G4-16000 CCD cameras (based on large-format Kodak KAF-16803 chip) used in several robotic telescopes. We briefly review the results acquired on these cameras, as well as hardware and software we developed for the laboratory.

ROLE OF THE 3.6M DOT TO INVESTIGATE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LONG-GRBS AND CORE-COLLAPSE SNE

Newly installed 3.6m DOT at Nainital (Uttarakhand) is a novel facility for the time domain astronomy. Because of the longitudinal advantage of India, it could be used to study new transients reported by a global network of robotic telescopes. Observations with the 4K × 4K CCD Imager at the axial port of the 3.6m DOT will be very helpful in the near future towards understanding the different physical aspects of time-critical events, e.g., Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), Supernovae, Gravitational wave candidates, etc. Using the Imager with broadband filters (Bessel UBVRI and SDSS ugriz), ~6.5' × 6.5' images could be obtained to attempt various science goals in synergy with other multi-band facilities. In this study, we present an analysis of unpublished R-band data of GRB 171205A/SN 2017iuk spanning between ~12 to 105 days since burst, that observed using the 3.6m DOT with 4K × 4K CCD Imager. In the R-band light curve, a bump appears to start from ~3 days, which shows the peak at ~15 days after the burst, clearly indicates photometric evidence of association of SN with GRB 171205A.

SPINAR MODEL FOR BINARY NEUTRON STAR MERGER

We consider the neutron stars mergers from the point of view of the spinar model. We present calculations of the maximum luminosity of merging neutron stars, both total and in optical ranges. The possibility of observing such gamma-ray bursts using the MASTER system of robotic telescopes is also discussed.

OPPORTUNITIES TO USE NEW ROBOTIC TELESCOPES IN SPAIN

The Space Exploration Ltd (SEL) has established new observatory facilities in Spain to provide the opportunity for astronomers to remotely access a range of research-grade telescopes and access to a spectrograph, polarimeter, photometry and adaptive-optics system. In the future, simultaneous automated multi-wavelength observations will also be tested and made available. This will enable the development of new observational and analytical processes for astronomy and astrophysics. Observations will be scheduled via Internet, including projects requiring long-term ongoing monitoring. Data can be accessed rapidly following scheduled observations. Access is on a commercial, non-competitive basis, avoiding conventional time-consuming administrative requirements, wait times, and disappointments.

ROBOTIC TELESCOPES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND FACULTY

Space Exploration Limited (SEL) new observatory facilities in Spain will support a diverse range of educational and professional activities, from entrylevel projects to innovative graduate and professional research. Robotic telescopes and sophisticated instrumentation can aid in designing an astronomy curriculum as well as carrying out individual short-term or long-term research or learning projects. SEL's observatory facilities support faculty by providing an easy, practical and cost-effective approach in which there is no need to develop, purchase or maintain astronomical equipment. Because of the extensive range of instrumentation, research can be carried out to lay the foundation to increase the chances of getting time on the largest telescopes. Robotic telescopes can be integrated successfully into education by avoiding the challenges uncovered by worldwide research into this area.

GALAXY-TARGETED ROBOTIC TELESCOPE FOLLOW-UP OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVE EVENTS

Robotic telescopes and networks are well equipped to respond rapidly to transient events. However, the era of multi-messenger astronomy presents new challenges in the search for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events. Specifically, these sources can be distant, faint, poorly localised, and quickly decaying. Effciently searching for counterparts requires coverage of large localisation regions and/or targeted observations. This paper presents a galaxy retrieval and ranking algorithm for targeted observations, and a public web interface to retrieve ranked galaxy lists following a gravitational wave event. The website is publicly available at https://gwtool.watchertelescope.ie/.

THE USE OF ROBOTIC TELESCOPES IN THE SCIENCE-IES PROJECT IN SPAIN

ScienceIES is a distinctive way to teach Astronomy and other scientific disciplines, focusing in high-school students (age 15-17). ScienceIES is the name of the project started in 2010 at regional level in Andalucía (south Spain) pulling together the educational and scientific systems with students in the target. Some of the Astronomy projects are based on the use of robotic telescopes, such as the ones of the BOOTES worldwide network. Some of the projects are presented here.