GTNGTNThe GLAST Telescope NetworkThe GLAST Telescope Network

Involvement for students and teachers Involvement for students and teachers in the science of the Swift, GLAST, and in the science of the Swift, GLAST, and

XMM-Newton missionsXMM-Newton missions

Gordon Spear and Tim GravesGordon Spear and Tim Graves

Sonoma State UniversitySonoma State University

SwEC, July 2003SwEC, July 2003

GTNGTN What is it? (some motivation)What is it? (some motivation)

– GRBs, AGNs, Blazars, CVs, PolarsGRBs, AGNs, Blazars, CVs, Polars

How does it work?How does it work?– Observe using telescopes w/CCDs, analyze and Observe using telescopes w/CCDs, analyze and

submit data, compare and interpret results, help submit data, compare and interpret results, help othersothers

Join us!Join us!– Involvement with exciting science, support the Involvement with exciting science, support the

Swift, GLAST, and XMM-Newton missionsSwift, GLAST, and XMM-Newton missions

What is the GTN?What is the GTN?… and what does it do?… and what does it do?

An environment which allows students, teachers, An environment which allows students, teachers, amateur astronomers, and professional astronomers amateur astronomers, and professional astronomers to participate in obtaining and analyzing significant to participate in obtaining and analyzing significant scientific observations which directly support several scientific observations which directly support several NASA missionsNASA missions

Collaboration among small observatories and Collaboration among small observatories and observers with access to telescopesobservers with access to telescopes

Chase after GRBs (images)Chase after GRBs (images) Surveillance, lead-up, and follow-up observations of Surveillance, lead-up, and follow-up observations of

blazars and polars (images)blazars and polars (images) Analysis of images and determination of magnitudesAnalysis of images and determination of magnitudes Archive magnitude measurements and CCD imagesArchive magnitude measurements and CCD images

Science ObjectivesScience Objectives Chase after GRB afterglows and determine Chase after GRB afterglows and determine

magnitudesmagnitudes Establish base-line magnitudes and optical Establish base-line magnitudes and optical

activity levels for bright, Gamma-loud AGNs activity levels for bright, Gamma-loud AGNs (blazars) and magnetic CVs (polars)(blazars) and magnetic CVs (polars)

Provide optical lead-up and follow-up Provide optical lead-up and follow-up observations for GLAST and XMM-Newton observations for GLAST and XMM-Newton targetstargets

Provide optical triggers for observations of Provide optical triggers for observations of blazars and polars by GLAST and XMM-blazars and polars by GLAST and XMM-NewtonNewton

What are these objects?What are these objects?

Blazars (type of active galaxy, AGN)Blazars (type of active galaxy, AGN) Polars (type of cataclysmic variable, CV)Polars (type of cataclysmic variable, CV) Gamma-ray burst (GRB)Gamma-ray burst (GRB)

Artistic Impression of an AGNArtistic Impression of an AGN

The BlazarsThe Blazars

The blazars appear to be AGN for which the The blazars appear to be AGN for which the jets are pointing directly at us.jets are pointing directly at us.

We are looking directly down the throat of the We are looking directly down the throat of the dragon!dragon!

These are the only prominent point sources in These are the only prominent point sources in the gamma-ray sky that are outside of the the gamma-ray sky that are outside of the galactic plane. (Gamma loud)galactic plane. (Gamma loud)

Beams of particles moving at relativistic Beams of particles moving at relativistic speeds produce intense beams of gamma speeds produce intense beams of gamma rays.rays.

These are the most variable of the AGNs.These are the most variable of the AGNs.

Blazar Variability DataBlazar Variability Data

Slow, longterm irregular Slow, longterm irregular changes with occasional changes with occasional outbursts (flares) and outbursts (flares) and declinesdeclines

Available observationsAvailable observations– Longterm (few per year)Longterm (few per year)

– Intraday (few per week)Intraday (few per week)

– Microvariability (many per Microvariability (many per hour)hour)

Lightcurve classificationLightcurve classification– OutburstsOutbursts

– DeclinesDeclines

– Outbursts and declinesOutbursts and declines

The blazarsThe blazars– Most variable of the Most variable of the

AGNsAGNs– Amplitudes to 4 Amplitudes to 4

magnitudes or moremagnitudes or more– Can exhibit detectable Can exhibit detectable

variations from night-to-variations from night-to-night and within a nightnight and within a night

– Periodicity has NOT Periodicity has NOT been convincingly been convincingly demonstrateddemonstrated

B2 1308+326outbursts

B2 1215+303declines

B2 1215+303outbursts and

declines

PG 0804+762non-blazar AGN

Intraday Variability

Mrk 5010.1 mag miniflare

BL Lac0.4 mag in 30 minutes

Artistic Impression of a CVArtistic Impression of a CV

The Cataclysmic VariablesThe Cataclysmic Variables

The cataclysmic variables (CVs) are close binary The cataclysmic variables (CVs) are close binary systems.systems.– One component is a white dwarf.One component is a white dwarf.– One component is a cool main sequence star.One component is a cool main sequence star.– Orbital periods are typically a few hours.Orbital periods are typically a few hours.

Mass transfer is occurring from the main sequence Mass transfer is occurring from the main sequence star to the white dwarf.star to the white dwarf.

As mass falls toward the white dwarf the matter As mass falls toward the white dwarf the matter normally forms a disk or ring around the white dwarf.normally forms a disk or ring around the white dwarf.

As sufficient matter accumulates on the white dwarf As sufficient matter accumulates on the white dwarf an explosion and outburst can occur.an explosion and outburst can occur.

These are the cataclysms of the cataclysmic These are the cataclysms of the cataclysmic variables.variables.

Artistic Impression of a PolarArtistic Impression of a Polar

The PolarsThe Polars

The polars are a type of magnetic CV.The polars are a type of magnetic CV. The magnetic field of the white dwarf component can The magnetic field of the white dwarf component can

be several million Gauss.be several million Gauss. The magnetic field is so strong that a disk or ring is The magnetic field is so strong that a disk or ring is

prevented from forming.prevented from forming. As matter falls toward the white dwarf the matter is As matter falls toward the white dwarf the matter is

forced to follow the magnetic field lines.forced to follow the magnetic field lines. The matter eventually strikes the white dwarf at the The matter eventually strikes the white dwarf at the

magnetic poles.magnetic poles. These are the polars.These are the polars.

GRBsGRBs

The GTNThe GTN

What is it?What is it?

How does it work?How does it work?

Small telescopes with CCD camerasSmall telescopes with CCD cameras– Schools, students,amateurs, professionalsSchools, students,amateurs, professionals

Robotic telescope systems are idealRobotic telescope systems are ideal Observing program Observing program ttargetarget objects objects

– One or more objects observable any time of yearOne or more objects observable any time of year

Observing techniquesObserving techniques Data reduction and analysis techniquesData reduction and analysis techniques Partners and participantsPartners and participants

The AAVSO PartnershipThe AAVSO Partnership

The AAVSO and the GTN have agreed The AAVSO and the GTN have agreed to a partnership to encourage and to a partnership to encourage and support observations of the GTN target support observations of the GTN target objects (GRBs, blazars, polars).objects (GRBs, blazars, polars).

AAVSOAAVSO --> American Association of --> American Association of Variable Star ObserversVariable Star Observers

The nature of the AAVSO partnershipThe nature of the AAVSO partnership

AAVSO has an active GRB observing program and AAVSO has an active GRB observing program and data archiving system.data archiving system.

AAVSO has added the bright GTN blazars and polars AAVSO has added the bright GTN blazars and polars to their observing list.to their observing list.

AAVSO will adopt the GTN photometric sequences.AAVSO will adopt the GTN photometric sequences. AAVSO will archive GTN magnitude determinations AAVSO will archive GTN magnitude determinations

and make them available to the scientific community and make them available to the scientific community (Lightcurve Generator).(Lightcurve Generator).

GTN will archive CCD images (GTNA).GTN will archive CCD images (GTNA). AAVSO will provide all observations of blazars and AAVSO will provide all observations of blazars and

polars to the GTN.polars to the GTN.

Some Examples of GTN DataSome Examples of GTN Data

3C66A, SSUO3C66A, SSUO

V-filter, stack of 4 2-minute exposuresV-filter, stack of 4 2-minute exposures

3C66A - SSUO & AAVSO3C66A - SSUO & AAVSO

CCD observations

Visual estimates plus CCD observations

Sonoma State University ObservatorySonoma State University Observatory

The SSU Robotic Telescope SystemThe SSU Robotic Telescope SystemRTS1RTS1

Paramount-ME w/Celestron-14 and Apogee AP-47Paramount-ME w/Celestron-14 and Apogee AP-47– 0.4 meter telescope, point to better than 10 arcseconds, 0.4 meter telescope, point to better than 10 arcseconds,

track to better than 2 arcsec, CCD with better than 90% QEtrack to better than 2 arcsec, CCD with better than 90% QE– Capable of reliable photometry to 18th magnitudeCapable of reliable photometry to 18th magnitude

Currently being tested at SSUOCurrently being tested at SSUO Will be installed at dark site and begin science Will be installed at dark site and begin science

observations in 2003observations in 2003 Observe GTN blazar and polar fields every clear Observe GTN blazar and polar fields every clear

night beginning 2003 and continuing through the night beginning 2003 and continuing through the GLAST missionGLAST mission

Will chase after GRB afterglowsWill chase after GRB afterglows

Testing the SSU Robotic TelescopeTesting the SSU Robotic Telescope

Likely dark site installation

The RTS1 Site at Pepperwood PreserveThe RTS1 Site at Pepperwood PreserveCalifornia Academy of SciencesCalifornia Academy of Sciences

RTS1 will be located at the Hume Observatory

How can you participate and How can you participate and contribute?contribute?

Obtain CCD observations of GTN target Obtain CCD observations of GTN target objects (GRB afterglows, blazars, polars)objects (GRB afterglows, blazars, polars)

Provide telescope time or telescope access Provide telescope time or telescope access for GTN participantsfor GTN participants

Reduce and analyze CCD data obtained by Reduce and analyze CCD data obtained by other GTN participantsother GTN participants

Participate in intense microvariability Participate in intense microvariability campaignscampaigns

Mentor GTN participants in observing Mentor GTN participants in observing procedures, data reduction, basic astronomyprocedures, data reduction, basic astronomy

What is in it for students and teachers?What is in it for students and teachers?

Participation in a significant research program Participation in a significant research program supporting major space observatoriessupporting major space observatories

Opportunities for collaboration with other GTN Opportunities for collaboration with other GTN participants and mission scientistsparticipants and mission scientists

Opportunities to submit scientific data that will be used Opportunities to submit scientific data that will be used by scientists to better understand these strange objectsby scientists to better understand these strange objects

Access to the data in the GTN and AAVSO archivesAccess to the data in the GTN and AAVSO archives Announcements of outbursts and other activity reported Announcements of outbursts and other activity reported

for GRBs, blazars, and polarsfor GRBs, blazars, and polars GTN electronic mailing listGTN electronic mailing list Ask a ScientistAsk a Scientist Teacher’s Guide, tutorials, and curriculum materialsTeacher’s Guide, tutorials, and curriculum materials

The GTNThe GTNJoin with us!Join with us!

Exciting scienceExciting science Hands-on student projects, science fair Hands-on student projects, science fair

projectsprojects Collaboration with other students and Collaboration with other students and

scientistsscientists Involvement with major space observatoriesInvolvement with major space observatories Possible original discoveriesPossible original discoveries

http://glast.sonoma.edu/gtnhttp://glast.sonoma.edu/gtn