MRI: Acquisition of instrumentation for a node in the global SONG observing network for ultra high-precision seismology of bright stars

位于新墨西哥州的SONG是一台机器人望远镜，它与一台超精密摄谱仪相结合，将成为恒星观测网络组（SONG）的一个补充。这项国际合作将获得对明亮振荡恒星的近连续观测，以研究它们的结构。 了解恒星是天体物理学的一个基本目标，因为恒星是星系和宇宙最基本的组成部分。这将是全球SONG项目中唯一的美国参与机构。它将提供实现科学目标所需的24小时覆盖的关键环节。这些观测将有助于更好地了解各种各样的恒星，包括拥有类地行星的目标恒星。这个新设施与新墨西哥州州立大学的学生和教师在天文学方面的兴趣有很大的重叠，提供了长期的教育和研究利益和承诺。振荡的恒星在它们内部有湍流运动，产生声波，导致它们中的大多数摆动并像钟声一样响起。对这些声振荡的测量和分析是研究星星内部的主要手段。该项目将获得并组装一台望远镜和摄谱仪，以填补全球SONG网络中的空白，该网络致力于每天24小时监测振荡星。最先进的摄谱仪来自一个经过良好测试的设计，并已证明径向速度精度约为每秒1米。该设施的目标是对恒星进行星震学研究，以获得尽可能详细的信息，并搜索和描述类太阳恒星周围的类地行星。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

SONG in New Mexico is a robotic telescope combined with an ultra-precise spectrograph that will be an addition to the Stellar Observations Network Group (SONG). This international collaboration will obtain near-continuous observations of bright, oscillating stars in order to study their structure. Understanding stars is a fundamental goal of astrophysics as stars are the most basic building blocks of galaxies and the universe. This will be the only U.S. participating facility in the global SONG project. It will provide the key link to allow 24-hour coverage that is needed to accomplish the scientific goals. The observations will lead to an improved understanding of a wide variety of stars, including target stars that host Earth-like planets. This new facility overlaps significantly with the interests of the students and faculty in astronomy at New Mexico State University, providing long-term educational and research benefits and commitment.Oscillating stars have turbulent motions within them that generate sound waves that cause the majority of them to wobble and ring like bells. The measurement and analysis of these acoustic oscillations is the primary means to study the interior of a star. This project will acquire and assemble a telescope and spectrograph instrument that will close a gap in the world-wide SONG network dedicated to monitoring oscillating stars 24 hours per day. The state-of-the-art spectrograph comes from a well-tested design and has already demonstrated radial-velocity precision of about 1 meter-per-second. The goals this facility enables are to perform asteroseismology of stars to obtain the most detailed information possible, and to search for and characterize Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars. It complements past, current, and future space missions with similar science goals.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.