The Global Telescope
Network
Phil PlaitSonoma State
University
The Sonoma State University Education and Public Outreach
Group (SSU E/PO)
Tim Graves
Lynn Cominsky Aurore Simonnet Sarah Silva
Phil Plait
Gordon Spear
What is E/PO?
• Education and Public Outreach
• Formal (in class) and informal activities
• Posters, flyers, brochures
• Doodads, gimmicks, doohickeys, and gizmos
• Websites, articles, etc. Science/astronomy promotion
Who’s Paying For It
GLAST
• Observes gamma rays
• High-energy objects
• Active galaxies, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, magnetic neutron stars, polars, solar flares
• Launches in 2007 (or so), 5+ year mission
• 350 M$ (+foreign $), with 1% to E/PO
Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope
Active Galaxies
• Galaxies with unusually bright nuclei• Emission lines (narrow and/or broad)• Some have jets
All appear to have black holesin the middle
Active Galaxies (2)
Pulsars
• Rapidly rotating neutron star• Large magnetic field (>1012
Earth)• Many emit gamma rays, as
well as radio, optical, X-rays
• Crab, Vela, GRO J1744-28
Pulsars (2)
The GLAST Resort
Many or most of these sources emitacross the electromagnetic spectrum, but GLAST only sees gamma rays!
What can be done about this?
The Global (nee GLAST) Telescope Network
• International (multi-longitude) network of ground-based telescopes
• Purpose: to support GLAST science, and educate students about astronomy
• Funded through GLAST, but Swift and XMM-Newton are kicking in too
• Partners: AAVSO, RCT, Elk Creek Observatory, California Academy of Sciences
• Talking with other groups as well
• Provide short, medium, and long-term baseline observations of interesting targets (pre- and post-launch)
• Synoptic (concurrent) observations with GLAST (post-launch, duh)
• Multi-wavelength observations provide insight into physics of energy generation and physical properties of central engines
Supporting GLAST Science
Supporting GLAST ScienceBL Lac:
A feisty galaxy on all timescales
Years
Hours
Days
Potential Science Projects
• Active galaxy, polar surveillance – V and I observations of 2 targets / month– S/N >100, photometry ~1%
• High time-resolution datasets– Microvariability– Observe one target for
many hours– At least once/year
• Gamma-ray bursts– Rapid response (GCN notification)– High S/N, but fast, multiple images more critical
Potential Educational Projects
• Simple image reduction and analysis
• Hands-On Universe• AAVSO cooperation
Goal: Publish data in
scientific journals
Resistance is FutileWhat/Who are we looking for?
• Observers with access to telescopes w/CCD• Willing to observe a minimum amount (depends on project)• Willing to have data archived and used by others• Not up for a long-term commitment? Go through the AAVSO!
Advantages: • Work with professionals on cutting-edge science• Publishing• Info/tutorials on robotic telescopes• Receive GTN updates
RTS-1, aka “Big red”•Celestron 14”/Paramount/
AP47P•Pepperwood Ranch, Hume Observatory (California Academy of Sciences)
10 km
Santa Rosa, CA
http://gtn.sonoma.edu
