The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Observer
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The direct detection of gravitational waves using the Ligo gravitational wave detectors in September 2015 was one of humankind's greatest achievements. It was the equivalent of measuring the distance to the nearest star to our Sun better than the thickness of a human hair. Gravitational waves offer a route straight to the heart of the most extreme systems in nature and environments that are inaccessible to conventional astronomical techniques. This makes them powerful probes of extreme conditions and beacons to the distant universe.
However, gravitational wave detectors are currently not able to accurately pin-point the location in the sky of these waves. It will be rather like the bird watcher hearing an interesting call in the distance; the direction can be determined roughly but then the searcher must scan visually for signs of movement to pinpoint the cause. Although merging black holes are not expected to show an immediate optical signal, merging neutron stars are.
The problem is that the detectors can only locate the merging system to an area thousands of times the area of the moon. If the region can be mapped quickly enough new sources can be identified which were not present before the event took place. This idea was spectacularly demonstrated when in Sept 2017 a merging neutron star binary was detected first in gravitational waves and then a few days later in optical, radio and X-rays. This event became one of the most well studied astronomical events ever made and indicated that gold may well originate in these violent events.
In 2015, the Universities of Warwick and Monash in Australia developed the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO). The concept was to have a series of telescopes on two mounts allowing us to cover 100 times the area of the moon in one go. As soon as a gravitational wave was triggered the robotic telescope would start taking images of the part of the sky where the event was expected to be. Since then a number of UK and international groups have joined the GOTO consortium and a prototype has been operating on the mountain top of La Palma in the Canaries.
This proposal aims to obtain funding so that the GOTO facility on La Palma can be extended to 16 telescopes covering 4 times as much as the prototype and to build a copy of GOTO in Australia. This would allow us to cover most of the observable sky and ensure that we obtain an image of the same patch of sky every few days which is essential if we are going to weed out new sources which are not the gravitational wave event but other events such as supernovae, accreting binaries or flare stars. Although somewhat confusing the search for neutron stars mergers, those other types of sources are at the same time another very useful science product that the project can produce. Our design ensures we are able to compete with other world class facilities. Our prototype telescopes are already providing excellent data showing our believe in this project will pay off.
However, gravitational wave detectors are currently not able to accurately pin-point the location in the sky of these waves. It will be rather like the bird watcher hearing an interesting call in the distance; the direction can be determined roughly but then the searcher must scan visually for signs of movement to pinpoint the cause. Although merging black holes are not expected to show an immediate optical signal, merging neutron stars are.
The problem is that the detectors can only locate the merging system to an area thousands of times the area of the moon. If the region can be mapped quickly enough new sources can be identified which were not present before the event took place. This idea was spectacularly demonstrated when in Sept 2017 a merging neutron star binary was detected first in gravitational waves and then a few days later in optical, radio and X-rays. This event became one of the most well studied astronomical events ever made and indicated that gold may well originate in these violent events.
In 2015, the Universities of Warwick and Monash in Australia developed the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO). The concept was to have a series of telescopes on two mounts allowing us to cover 100 times the area of the moon in one go. As soon as a gravitational wave was triggered the robotic telescope would start taking images of the part of the sky where the event was expected to be. Since then a number of UK and international groups have joined the GOTO consortium and a prototype has been operating on the mountain top of La Palma in the Canaries.
This proposal aims to obtain funding so that the GOTO facility on La Palma can be extended to 16 telescopes covering 4 times as much as the prototype and to build a copy of GOTO in Australia. This would allow us to cover most of the observable sky and ensure that we obtain an image of the same patch of sky every few days which is essential if we are going to weed out new sources which are not the gravitational wave event but other events such as supernovae, accreting binaries or flare stars. Although somewhat confusing the search for neutron stars mergers, those other types of sources are at the same time another very useful science product that the project can produce. Our design ensures we are able to compete with other world class facilities. Our prototype telescopes are already providing excellent data showing our believe in this project will pay off.
Planned Impact
We would like to refer to our Pathways to Impact statement for a more detailed discussion of project impact, but note here the key ingredients:
- the development of a bespoke robotic mount with an industrial partner that has since been sold to 3rd parties and continues to be developed
- the implementation of bespoke wide field telescopes for professional use and the transfer of the concept to satellite tracking and SSA uses
- Big Data mining and machine learning, including a collaboration with Thailand via the Newton Fund
- Exploring citizen science opportunities
- Exploit the public's appetite for inspiring GW science to boost media coverage and stimulate uptake of STEM subjects at University level
- the development of a bespoke robotic mount with an industrial partner that has since been sold to 3rd parties and continues to be developed
- the implementation of bespoke wide field telescopes for professional use and the transfer of the concept to satellite tracking and SSA uses
- Big Data mining and machine learning, including a collaboration with Thailand via the Newton Fund
- Exploring citizen science opportunities
- Exploit the public's appetite for inspiring GW science to boost media coverage and stimulate uptake of STEM subjects at University level
Organisations
- University of Warwick (Lead Research Organisation)
- Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Portsmouth (Collaboration)
- Armagh Observatory (Collaboration)
- National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Collaboration)
- University of Turku (Collaboration)
- Monash University (Collaboration)
Publications
Gompertz B.
(2023)
GOTO Transient Discovery Report for 2023-12-15
in Transient Name Server Discovery Report
Gompertz B.
(2020)
GRB 201015A: Late X-ray Detections with Chandra
in GRB Coordinates Network
Gompertz B.
(2024)
GOTO Transient Discovery Report for 2024-02-28
in Transient Name Server Discovery Report
Gompertz B.
(2020)
GRB 200723A: GOTO candidate afterglow and host galaxy
in GRB Coordinates Network
Hodgkin S
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3 Gaia photometric science alerts
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jung Y
(2023)
Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search. VIII. Complete Sample of 2019 Subprime Field Planets
in The Astronomical Journal
Kennedy M.
(2020)
GOTO Transient Discovery Report for 2020-07-16
in Transient Name Server Discovery Report
Kennedy M.
(2020)
GOTO Transient Discovery Report for 2020-12-16
in Transient Name Server Discovery Report
Kennedy M.
(2020)
GOTO Transient Discovery Report for 2020-07-15
in Transient Name Server Discovery Report
Killestein T
(2024)
Correction to: Precision Ephemerides for Gravitational-wave Searches - IV. Corrected and refined ephemeris for Scorpius X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | We have fully deployed a network of autonomous survey telescopes across two hemispheres that patrol the sky and respond to explosive events, gravitational wave signals, high-energy bursts, neutrinos and other external triggers. The facility is generating data continuously which is processed in near-realtime with a low-latency bespoke pipeline. Discoveries and detections are shared with the community via various platforms and mechanisms and we are also running a very active citizen science component. The facility is regularly discovering new objects. |
Exploitation Route | Data products and discoveries feed into a variety of other facilities and users. |
Sectors | Education |
URL | https://goto-observatory.org/ |
Description | The main transfer of knowledge is the custom designed telescope systems we use for the project, developed in conjunction with a commercial vendor. These have fed into further market and product opportunities for the vendor, who is uses our project as a key reference and markets some of the components to other clients. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Observer |
Amount | £1,909,964 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/T003103/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2020 |
End | 12/2023 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | Armagh Observatory and Planetarium |
Department | Armagh Observatory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | Monash University |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand |
Country | Thailand |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | University of Portsmouth |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Gravitational wave Optical Transient Consortium |
Organisation | University of Turku |
Country | Finland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations Project Management |
Collaborator Contribution | Capital investment and instrument development Software & technique development Scientific data analysis Science exploitations |
Impact | Refereed publications (see direct attributions) Media events and news stories Software code and algorithms (shared via github) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | BBC feature |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBC filming GOTO project at La Palma Observatory |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Citizen Science project ; kilonova seekers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Pitch to the citizen science community on the zooniverse platform: The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) consists of an array of wide-field optical telescopes, designed and optimised for the follow-up of EM counterparts to GW sources. A key design feature of GOTO is scalability, and it was designed using "off-the-shelf" components to minimise cost and enhance reproducibility, whilst also ensuring rapid response time to alert triggers alongside balancing sky coverage and depth. GOTO is currently comprised of two different nodes, GOTO-North at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, Canary Islands, and GOTO-South at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia, each hosting two mount systems holding eight fast 40 cm diameter unit telescopes, operating together. As La Palma and Siding Spring are on opposite sides of the world this allows for constant observation, i.e. as one site is closing for the day the other will take over. These locations and observing timeframes allow the GOTO system to survey the entire sky every 2-3 days. The key focus of GOTO is the rapid response system, targeting the initial localisation of GW sources from LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA. When the GOTO system receives an alert of a GW event, it is able to pivot all telescopes to point to that location within 30 seconds and begin scanning that area for the predicted EM counterpart. More information about the design of GOTO can be found here. Alongside this rapid response mode, GOTO operates in a survey mode, observing the entire sky every few days, making it an ideal tool for time-domain or "transient" astronomy, monitoring any changes across the sky, such as the appearance of supernovae, variable stars, active galactic nuclei, and many others! Once images are taken, they are immediately processed and uploaded to the dedicated GOTO Marshall for visual inspection by the team. At the same time, candidate objects for this citizen science project are sent over to the Zooniverse platform, enabling this project to be run in near-real time. We need your help to identify interesting transients that might otherwise be missed, as we have to prioritise speed over completeness and only look at a small subset. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
URL | https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/tkillestein/kilonova-seekers |