The prompt acquisition of gamma ray optical counterparts with the Bradford Robotic Telescope

Abstract

The Bradford Robotic Telescope was conceived as an instrument to work with observers in other wavebands and specifically to monitor gamma sources and acquire optical counterparts to gamma-bursters. Its main line of support has been to provide an automated robotic photometry service on the Internet. Its first light was in the autumn of 1993. The telescope and its development are described (http://www.telescope.org/rti). The development of instrumentation for astronomy in an engineering department is discussed and the evolution of the networking and communications is described to the point where a fast link to the Internet BACODINE system can be achieved. The current performance is detailed with estimates of its efficiency. Images of BATSE error boxes are discussed. Current plans are to better match the field of the telescope to the BATSE error boxes and to monitor optical counterparts on a fractional second time scale.