Open AccessLONG-TERM PHOTOMETRY WITH SKYNET ROBOTIC TELESCOPE NETWORK
Author(s) -
S. Zoła,
V. V. Kouprianov,
D. Reichart,
Gopal Bhatta,
D. B. Caton
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
revista mexicana de astronomía y astrofísica. serie de conferencias
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.131
H-Index - 28
ISSN - 1405-2059
DOI - 10.22201/ia.14052059p.2021.53.40
Subject(s) - photometry (optics) , telescope , light curve , physics , term (time) , astronomy , software , blazar , astrophysics , computer science , stars , programming language , gamma ray
In this paper, we describe the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network, a network of about 2 dozen small optical telescopes spanning four continents. For a prospective user of the network, we provide details on its operation and mention certain caveats potentially affecting observations taken under the control of Skynet software. The actual performance of the network is demonstrated by long-term observations of two blazars: OJ 49 and 3C 279. We show their photometric light curves acquired with a subset of Skynet telescopes in the 2018/19 observing seasons. Preliminary results of the analysis of the variability of these two targets are given, including the quantitative properties of light variations and the periods of possible Quasi Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) found in the seasonal light curves.