utah telescope site selection 2008 d. kieda, s. lebohec, w. springer, p. gondolo, k. martens, p....
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Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008
D. Kieda, S. Lebohec, W. Springer, P. Gondolo, K. Martens,
P. Gondolo, P. Ricketts, C. Zimmer
University of Utah
Southern Utah Telescope StatusSouthern Utah Telescope Status• Telescope has been purchased!!! • DFM engineering of Longmont, CO
has been awarded the contract http://www.dfmengineering.com
• Fabrication Underway– Primary Mirror cell complete and
shipped to mirror manufacturer
– Pier Bolt Jig complete and ready to ship
– Various other parts continue through manufacturing process
• Delivery/Installation scheduled for Summer 2009
• Site Selection 2007-2008
Site SelectionSite Selection
• Explored MANY potential observatory sites (from Frisco peak to the Henry Mountains)
• 1984 Kitt Peak Site Survey: Frisco Peak + others in UT• “Seeing” Measurements from 6 locations
Salt Lake City
Utah Precipitation PatternUtah Precipitation Pattern
Frisco Peak
Mud SpringsPoint
Parker Cliff Frisco receivesAbout 1/2 the precipitation of Parker and Mud Springs
Weather Analysis: CloudinessWeather Analysis: Cloudiness
Milford, Tuscon Bryce Canyon >2x more likely to be clear than Salt Lake City
Data obtained from MESOWEST weather data server for 1998-2008
clear
clear
clear
clear
Not clear
Not clear
Not clear
Not clear
Salt Lake City
Milford
Tucson Bryce Canyon
Weather Analysis:Cloudiness v MonthWeather Analysis:Cloudiness v Month
MonsoonsIn Tucson
Milford Salt Lake City
Bryce Canyon
MonthMonth
Month Month
Fra
ctio
n C
loud
yF
ract
ion
Clo
udy
Fra
ctio
n C
loud
yF
ract
ion
Clo
udy
Probability ofClear SkiesBetter in Summer
Site Survey/CharacterizationSite Survey/Characterization•Three Monitoring stations in field (2 equipped with U of U Meteorology weather stations)
•Measurements from:•Frisco Peak•Parker Mountain(2)•Boulder Mountain•Mount Dutton•Mud Springs Point
•U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permits acquired for Mount Dutton, Mud Springs Point and Boulder Highway sites
•About 10,000 miles of driving. Flat tires on “wicked roads”…
•Two “adversity-tested” undergraduate students
•Monitor 1:•Located on Parker Mountain•last data transmission on Jan 26,2008
•Monitor 2:•Located on Mud Springs Point•Repaired computer not installed in time before site became inaccessible
•Monitor 3:•Located on Frisco Peak•Still transmitting nightly data
Mud Springs Point
Weather Station and Seeing Monitor Weather Station and Seeing Monitor SystemSystem
Components• SBIG seeing monitor (basically a
ccd chip and SLR camera lens)• Low power 10W computer• timer switch• power distribution control
electronics• Deep cycle battery• 80 Watt solar panel (shell)
Weatherproof Box Housing Electronics
complete system
S.B.I.G seeing monitor
•Seeing and weather data as well as photos of Polaris collected nightly.• Transmitted each morning at ~5:30 AM through a Motorola cellular phone or Microwave link (State Telcom) on Frisco•University web page automatically updated daily with latest data and summary analysis…
Seeing at FriscoSeeing at Frisco
• Excellent Seeing conditions at Frisco Peak.• Rivals conditions in Chile, Hawaii…
Milky Way from Frisco Peak (Paul Ricketts)
South View from Frisco Peak Observatory Site
24 miles81 miles
Seeing MeasurementsSeeing Measurements
Frisco PeakMud SpringsPoint
Parker Cliff
Parker Off Cliff
Seeing FWHM arcsec Seeing FWHM arcsec
Seeing FWHM arcsec Seeing FWHM arcsec
Hou
rsH
ours
Hou
rsH
ours
Decision Taken!!!?? Frisco Bound…Decision Taken!!!?? Frisco Bound…•Primary site: Frisco Peak (BLM land). Frisco Peak looks to be the best in terms of atmospheric quality
•Casual use permit obtained from BLM for monitoring at Frisco Peak observatory site.
• SF-299 Permit requests for Frisco Peak to be submitted in June.
•Site preparation and construction: Site preparation and construction: Summer 2008Summer 2008
Southern Utah Observatory @ Frisco PeakSouthern Utah Observatory @ Frisco Peak• Elevation ~9700 feet Elevation ~9700 feet • Prominent Peak Prominent Peak • Excellent seeing Excellent seeing
conditions 1” typical conditions 1” typical (V band)(V band)
• Clear Dark Skies >22 Clear Dark Skies >22 mag/sq arc sec (V mag/sq arc sec (V band)band)
• BLM land/State landBLM land/State land• Existing Power lines, Existing Power lines,
road, internet (10xOC3) road, internet (10xOC3) to top and to lower 1 to top and to lower 1 sq. mile array sitesq. mile array site
• State Economic State Economic Development FundsDevelopment Funds
ee
Potential 1 square mile array site: 2100m a.s.lLocation: State Trust Land
Seeing MeasurementsSeeing Measurements
Month
Month
Ave
rage
See
ing
Ave
rage
See
ing
Frisco Peak
Parker Cliff
Seeing better during summerOn Frisco?