Spatial resolution

• 0.20 mas at R (650 nm)

• 0.52 mas at H (1.67 μm)

• 0.66 mas at K (2.13 μm)

Drive upgrade project

• 12 motors total
• Using existing 24:1 Dojen gearboxes and 6.5:1 friction drives.
• Existing drives are ~25 years old & discontinued
• Reduce vibration, improve tuning

Funded as part of the Mid-Scale Innovations Program (MSIP) to replace the existing Parker DM1015B-115 motor and drive

Mobile Telescope:

fiber-fed

Planewave 1m

with AO 

 

• Trial program began in 2010
  • Initially 5-10 nights per year
• Support from NSF Midscale Innovations Program in 2017
• Currently offer 40 nights per semester to the community
• Expanding to 50 nights per semester over the next 2 years
• Time offered through NOIRLab call for proposals
  • Semester A (Mar – Jul): due end of September
  • Semester B (Aug – Dec): due end of March

Open Access

Cumulative number of internal (CHARA consortium) vs external (NOIRLab) users.

• Open access awarded time (blue)
• Applied but did not receive time (green)

Average over-subscription rate of ~ 2.3,

~350 astronomers have applied for open access time.

 

 

For the open access program, we provide support with planning, observing, and reducing data.

 

https://www.chara.gsu.edu/observers/applying-for-chara-time

 

NOILab proposal form:

https://time-allocation.noirlab.edu/#/

 

Gies, D. R., et al. 2007, ApJ, 654, 527

Mourard, D., et al. 2015, A&A, 577, 51

Schaefer, G. H., et al. 2010, AJ, 140, 1838

Touhami, Y., et al. 2013, ApJ, 768, 128

Be stars

Kloppenborg et al. 2010, Nature, 464, 870

Zhao et al. 2008, ApJ, 684, 95

Roettenbacher et al. 2016, Nature, 533, 217

Spotted magnetic stars

Interacting binaries

Schaefer et al. 2014, Nature, 515, 234

Expansion curve of Nova Del 2013.

Regulus -- Che et al. 2011, ApJ, 732, 68

Rasalhague -- Zhao et al. 2009, ApJ, 701, 209

Altair -- Monnier et al. 2007, Science, 317, 324

Alderamin -- Zhao et al. 2009, ApJ, 701, 209

Beta Cas -- Che et al. 2011, ApJ, 732, 68