E. Katkova

Wide-field optical monitoring with Mini-MegaTORTORA (MMT-9) multichannel high temporal resolution telescope

We describe the properties of Mini-MegaTORTORA (MMT-9) nine-channel wide-field optical sky monitoring system with subsecond temporal resolution. This instrument can observe sky areas as large as 900 deg2, perform photometry in three filters close to Johnson BV R system and polarimetry of selected objects or areas with 100–300 deg2 sizes. The limiting magnitude of the system is up to V = 11m for 0.1 s temporal resolution, and reaches V = 15m in minute-long exposures. The system is equipped with a powerful computing facility and dedicated software pipeline allowing it to perform automatic detection, real-time classification, and investigation of transient events of different nature located both in the near- Earth space and at extragalactic distances. The objects routinely detected by MMT-9 include faint meteors and artificial Earth satellites.We discuss astronomical tasks that can be solved using MMT-9, and present the results of the first two years of its operation. In particular, we report the parameters of the optical flare detected on June 25, 2016, which accompanied the gamma-ray burst GRB160625B.

The first light of Mini-MegaTORTORA wide-field monitoring system

Abstract We describe the first light of a new 9-channel wide-field optical monitoring system with sub-second temporal resolution, Mini-MegaTORTORA, which is being tested now at the Special Astrophysical Observatory in Russian Caucasus. The system is able to observe the sky simultaneously in either wide (~900 deg2) or narrow (~100 deg2) fields of view, either in clear light or with any combination of color (Johnson B, V or R) and polarimetric filters installed, with exposure times ranging from 100 ms to 100 s. The primary goal of the system is the detection of rapid (with sub-second characteristic time scales) optical transients, but it may be also used for studying variability of sky objects over longer time scales.

Untriggered search for rapid optical transients with Mini-MegaTORTORA wide-field monitoring system

Here we report an ongoing efforts for an untriggered search of rapid optical transients of various astrophysical and non-astrophysical origins on time scales down to fractions of a second with Mini-MegaTORTORA. Mini-MegaTORTORA is a novel 9-channel wide-field optical monitoring system in operation since 2014 at Special Astrophysical Observatory on Russian Caucasus.