Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

We propose to upgrade The University of British Columbia Southern Observatory (USO) for exoplanetary system characterization, space debris monitoring, astronomical variability studies, and on-demand observing. The USO is a small robotic telescope located at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), which is one of the best visible light observing sites in the world due to its stable air, dark skies, and high fraction of good weather conditions. The telescope is owned and operated by UBC astronomers under an agreement with CTIO, making it the only wholly Canadian-owned and operated telescope with on-demand observing and unrestricted access at a premier observing site. Its presence in the Southern Hemisphere makes it a particularly important asset for Canadian astronomy, as international locations require non-trivial agreements and cooperation. The current system has unfortunately had multiple failures, and requires major repairs and modifications. The proposed upgrade will not just revitalize this unique facility, but will increase the capacity of the telescope to perform fundamental research with a wide range of training opportunities for students and technical staff. Two large projects that will immediately be addressed are the longterm monitoring of exoplanet systems and surveys of space debris. Monitoring known exoplanetary systems over long timescales will allow us to characterize if and how the observational signatures of the planets change with time, which can be used to infer or exclude the presence of additional planets in those systems. These observations will allow us to address basic questions in planetary system formation theory and will help in placing the Solar System's architecture into the context of the many planetary systems now known. The orbital debris surveys, with a focus on geosynchronous Earth and geosynchronous transfer orbits, will be used to help in characterizing human-produced debris in the orbital environment around Earth. This debris threatens the sustainable development of space due to its destructive potential, and is a major international concern with implications for all forms of space-based communications and surveillance. In addition to these initial primary programs, the on-demand observing capabilities will allow UBC astronomers to respond to targets of opportunity and to incorporate numerous small observing programs into the observing schedule throughout the year, enabling a wide range of optical astronomy. *