Robotic Operations at the Montsec Observatory: current and upcoming facilities

There is an increasing need for systematic and coordinated ground-based follow-up observations to support space missions and the next generation of large ground-based surveys. The rapid reaction and flexible, remote scheduling capabilities of robotic facilities makes them indispensable tools for the scientific exploration of transient, time domain and solar system topics, all of which rely on a swift response to either transient alerts or unattended long-term monitoring programs.

The Montsec Observatory (OdM) is a research and technological infrastructure located in Sant Esteve de la Sarga (Lleida) and managed by the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). The OdM currently hosts two astronomical telescopes: the Joan Oró Telescope (TJO), operated and managed by IEEC; and the TFRM, belonging to the Reial Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona (RACAB) and the Real Observatorio de la Armada (ROA). Both telescopes are devoted to multi-purpose astrophysical observations, as well as Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) activities.

The TJO is a fully-robotic 0.8-meter F/9.6 Ritchey-Chrétien optical telescope, equipped with two different instruments: an imaging camera (LAIA) and a spectrograph (ARES), which can be used interchangeably throughout any single night. Since the beginning of its operations in 2009, IEEC has been responsible for developing the software (such as the control system, the user interfaces and the intelligent scheduler, including transient alerts) and hardware technologies (such as the electronics and environmental control and monitoring system) that allow the TJO to operate in a fully unattended manner. The TJO is open to the scientific community, and supports a wide range of observational astronomy programs, as well as SST activities. These scientific programs include (but are not limited to) the study of exoplanets, variable stars, active galactic nuclei, and transient phenomena like gamma-ray bursts or supernovae; the TJO is also regularly providing support for space missions like Gaia, JWST, Ariel, or Einstein Probe.

Adding to this, we present a new facility in that is currently being commissioned and will be managed by IEEC at the Montsec Observatory, in collaboration with the Port d’Informació Científica (PIC) infrastructure (operated by IFAE), and the i2CAT Foundation. The New Wide-Field Fast Telescope (Telescopi Ràpid d’Ample Camp; TRAC) is a 0.4-meter F/2.4 telescope designed for high-speed, wide-field imaging, with a fast Direct Drive mount capable of slewing at 50 deg/s. The TRAC is equipped with a large-format CMOS camera with high resolution and fast cadence capabilities, as well as a back-focus capacity to host future additional instruments (such as optical communications systems).

The TRAC complements and expands the applications of the TJO: its scientific cases are related to application fields which cannot be typically covered with the TJO due to technical constraints: this includes follow-up of Near-Earth asteroids, fast transient phenomena (such as stellar occultations by asteroids) and astrophysics related to low surface brightness imaging. Part of the telescope time intended for these uses will be reserved for participation
in European programs for Planetary Defence, including tracking of LEO objects, and the rest will be open to the community, through the same user interface system offered with the TJO and TFRM telescopes.

Behind these efforts is a framework of efficient robotic and autonomous operations and open data practices. The large amount of data expected by the telescope’s instrumentation will be managed through the resources of PIC (IFAE) to ensure its correct storage and distribution. Upcoming telescopes will benefit from the software and interfaces already developed by IEEC for the TJO for the scheduling (ISROCS), operations (OCS), data reduction (ICAT), user interface (MUR) and will also make use of the Weather Control System taking advantage of the multiple and redundant weather sensors already operational at the OdM. By developing and managing open, multi-purpose facilities, we support a wide range of scientific cases and space technology demonstrations, contributing to both observational astronomy and the development of autonomous instrumentation.