Extended Abstract (320K)1.5
Lidar to Support Ground-Based Astronomy
David W. Roberts, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA; and G. Gimmestad and J. M. Stewart
The Georgia Tech Research Institute and the University of New Mexico are developing a compact, rugged, cost-effective, eye-safe lidar to be used for measuring atmospheric extinction in support of the second generation of the CCD/Transit Instrument (CTI-II). The CTI-II is a 1.8 meter telescope that will be used to accomplish a precise time-domain imaging photometric and astrometric survey at the McDonald Observatory in West Texas. The micropulse lidar will transmit 100 mW at 527 nm wavelength, and a 67-cm astronomical telescope will be used as the receiver. The lidar will be used in four different modes in support of the CTI-II: pointing in a fixed direction, co-aligned with the telescope, zenith-angle scanning, and sky dome mapping. The lidar will be capable of mapping the sky dome in 17 directions at a rate of three complete scans per hour in order to provide real-time measurements of the amount of atmospheric extinction as well as its cause, i.e. low-lying aerosols, dust or smoke in the free troposphere, or high cirrus. The goal of this project is to develop reliable, cost-effective lidar technology for any observatory in order to provide greater integrity for ground based data. This project is funded by NSF Grant Number 0421087.
Session 1, emerging lidar methods in addressing atmospheric issues (multiple scattering and associated benefits in lidar application)
Tuesday, 16 January 2007, 8:30 AM-10:00 AM, 207B
Previous paper
Recorded presentation