Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Victor M. Blanco 4-m Telescope: an upgrade to the telescope control system
2008
The CTIO V. M. Blanco 4-m telescope is to be the host facility for the Dark Energy Survey (DES), a large area optical
survey intended to measure the dark energy equation of state parameter, w. The survey is expected to use ~30% of the
telescope time over 5 years and use a new 520 megapixel CCD prime focus imaging system: the Dark Energy Camera
(DECam). The Blanco telescope will also be the southern hemisphere platform for NEWFIRM, a large area infrared
imager currently being commissioned at the Mayall Telescope at KPNO. As part of its normal cycle of continuing
upgrades and in preparation for the arrival of these new instruments, the Blanco telescope control system (TCS) will be
upgraded to provide a modern platform for observations and maximize the efficiency of survey operations. The
upgraded TCS will be based on that used at the SOAR telescope and will be a prototype of the TCS to be used by LSST.
It will be optimized for programmed and queued survey observations, will provide extended real-time telemetry of site
and facility characteristics, and will incorporate a distributed observer interface allowing for on- and off-site
observations and real time quality control. Hardware modifications will include the use of absolute tape encoders and a
modern servo control and power driver systems.
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