The UBC Southern Observatory

我们建议升级英属哥伦比亚大学南方天文台（USO）的系外行星系统表征、空间碎片监测、天文变异性研究和按需观测。USO是一个小型机器人望远镜，位于Cerro Tololo美洲天文台（CTIO），由于其稳定的空气，黑暗的天空和良好的天气条件，它是世界上最好的可见光观测点之一。该望远镜由UBC天文学家根据与CTIO的协议拥有和操作，使其成为唯一一个完全由加拿大拥有和操作的按需观测和不受限制地进入主要观测地点的望远镜。它在南半球的存在使它成为加拿大天文学特别重要的资产，因为国际位置需要重要的协议和合作。不幸的是，目前的系统出现了多次故障，需要进行重大维修和修改。拟议的升级不仅将使这个独特的设施恢复活力，而且将增加望远镜进行基础研究的能力，并为学生和技术人员提供广泛的培训机会。将立即着手的两个大型项目是对系外行星系统的长期监测和对空间碎片的调查。在长时间尺度上监测已知的系外行星系统将使我们能够描述行星的观测特征是否以及如何随时间变化，这可以用来推断或排除这些系统中存在其他行星。这些观测将使我们能够解决行星系统形成理论中的基本问题，并将有助于将太阳系的结构置于现在已知的许多行星系统的背景下。轨道碎片调查的重点是地球同步轨道和地球同步转移轨道，将用于帮助确定地球周围轨道环境中人为产生的碎片的特征。这种碎片由于具有破坏潜力而威胁到空间的可持续发展，是一个重大的国际关切，对所有形式的天基通信和监视都有影响。除了这些初始的主要项目外，随需应变的观测能力将允许UBC天文学家对机会目标做出反应，并将许多小型观测项目纳入全年的观测计划，从而实现广泛的光学天文学。* * * * *

We propose to upgrade The University of British Columbia Southern Observatory (USO) for exoplanetary system characterization, space debris monitoring, astronomical variability studies, and on-demand observing. The USO is a small robotic telescope located at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), which is one of the best visible light observing sites in the world due to its stable air, dark skies, and high fraction of good weather conditions. The telescope is owned and operated by UBC astronomers under an agreement with CTIO, making it the only wholly Canadian-owned and operated telescope with on-demand observing and unrestricted access at a premier observing site. Its presence in the Southern Hemisphere makes it a particularly important asset for Canadian astronomy, as international locations require non-trivial agreements and cooperation. The current system has unfortunately had multiple failures, and requires major repairs and modifications. The proposed upgrade will not just revitalize this unique facility, but will increase the capacity of the telescope to perform fundamental research with a wide range of training opportunities for students and technical staff. Two large projects that will immediately be addressed are the longterm monitoring of exoplanet systems and surveys of space debris. Monitoring known exoplanetary systems over long timescales will allow us to characterize if and how the observational signatures of the planets change with time, which can be used to infer or exclude the presence of additional planets in those systems. These observations will allow us to address basic questions in planetary system formation theory and will help in placing the Solar System's architecture into the context of the many planetary systems now known. The orbital debris surveys, with a focus on geosynchronous Earth and geosynchronous transfer orbits, will be used to help in characterizing human-produced debris in the orbital environment around Earth. This debris threatens the sustainable development of space due to its destructive potential, and is a major international concern with implications for all forms of space-based communications and surveillance. In addition to these initial primary programs, the on-demand observing capabilities will allow UBC astronomers to respond to targets of opportunity and to incorporate numerous small observing programs into the observing schedule throughout the year, enabling a wide range of optical astronomy. *****