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Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008

Utah 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 Status. Telescope has been purchased!!!

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Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008

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  1. Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008 D. Kieda, S. Lebohec, W. Springer, P. Gondolo, K. Martens, P. Gondolo, P. Ricketts, C. Zimmer University of Utah

  2. Southern 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

  3. Site 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

  4. Utah Precipitation Pattern Frisco Peak Parker Cliff Frisco receives About 1/2 the precipitation of Parker and Mud Springs Mud Springs Point

  5. Weather Analysis: Cloudiness Milford Salt Lake City clear Not clear Not clear clear Bryce Canyon Tucson clear clear Not clear Not clear Milford, Tuscon Bryce Canyon >2x more likely to be clear than Salt Lake City Data obtained from MESOWEST weather data server for 1998-2008

  6. Weather Analysis:Cloudiness v Month Milford Salt Lake City Fraction Cloudy Fraction Cloudy Probability of Clear Skies Better in Summer Month Month Bryce Canyon Fraction Cloudy Monsoons In Tucson Fraction Cloudy Month Month

  7. Site 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 Mud Springs Point • 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

  8. Weather Station and Seeing Monitor System • 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… 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) complete system Weatherproof Box Housing Electronics S.B.I.G seeing monitor

  9. Milky Way from Frisco Peak (Paul Ricketts) Seeing at Frisco South View from Frisco Peak Observatory Site 81 miles • Excellent Seeing conditions at Frisco Peak. • Rivals conditions in Chile, Hawaii… 24 miles

  10. Seeing Measurements Frisco Peak Mud Springs Point Hours Hours Seeing FWHM arcsec Seeing FWHM arcsec Parker Cliff Parker Off Cliff Hours Hours Seeing FWHM arcsec Seeing FWHM arcsec

  11. 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: Summer 2008

  12. Southern Utah Observatory @ Frisco Peak • Elevation ~9700 feet • Prominent Peak • Excellent seeing conditions 1” typical (V band) • Clear Dark Skies >22 mag/sq arc sec (V band) • BLM land/State land • Existing Power lines, road, internet (10xOC3) to top and to lower 1 sq. mile array site • State Economic Development Funds e Potential 1 square mile array site: 2100m a.s.l Location: State Trust Land

  13. Seeing Measurements Average Seeing Seeing better during summer On Frisco? Frisco Peak Month Average Seeing Parker Cliff Month

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