Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope
The Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT) is an automated telescope used in the search for supernovae.
The Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope dome | |
| Alternative names | KAIT |
|---|---|
| Part of | Lick Observatory |
| Location(s) | Santa Clara County, California, Pacific States Region |
| Coordinates | 37°20′36″N 121°38′05″W |
| First light | 1996 |
| Telescope style | optical telescope |
| Diameter | 76 cm (2 ft 6 in) |
| Website | www |
Location of Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope | |
| Related media on Commons | |
The telescope had a first light in 1998, and is a noted robotic telescope. It had first recorded data in August 1996, and was formally dedicated late that year. It was used for the Lick Observatory Supernova Search.
The KAIT is a computer-controlled reflecting telescope with a 76 cm mirror and a CCD camera to take pictures. It is located at the Lick Observatory near San Jose, California.
KAIT can take close to 100 images per hour and observe about 1000 galaxies a night.
The Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope is a robotic telescope designed to look for supernova. The telescope uses 76 cm (30 inch) diameter mirror that feeds a CCD imager with 20 slot filter wheel. The telescope is also supported by an electronic weather station, that can feed data to the robotic telescope control system. Several computers run software that controls the telescope and take in the data from the sensors.
The telescope's development was funded by the NSF at private donors since 1989, turning 30-inch (~760 mm) telescope in a computer controlled super nova huntress. The telescope can also monitor the brightness of variable stars.