Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008

D. Kieda, S. Lebohec, W. Springer, P. Gondolo, K. Martens,

P. Gondolo, P. Ricketts, C. Zimmer

University of Utah

Southern Utah Telescope StatusSouthern Utah Telescope Status• Telescope has been purchased!!! • DFM engineering of Longmont, CO

has been awarded the contract http://www.dfmengineering.com

• Fabrication Underway– Primary Mirror cell complete and

shipped to mirror manufacturer

– Pier Bolt Jig complete and ready to ship

– Various other parts continue through manufacturing process

• Delivery/Installation scheduled for Summer 2009

• Site Selection 2007-2008

Site SelectionSite Selection

• Explored MANY potential observatory sites (from Frisco peak to the Henry Mountains)

• 1984 Kitt Peak Site Survey: Frisco Peak + others in UT• “Seeing” Measurements from 6 locations

Salt Lake City

Utah Precipitation PatternUtah Precipitation Pattern

Frisco Peak

Mud SpringsPoint

Parker Cliff Frisco receivesAbout 1/2 the precipitation of Parker and Mud Springs

Weather Analysis: CloudinessWeather Analysis: Cloudiness

Milford, Tuscon Bryce Canyon >2x more likely to be clear than Salt Lake City

Data obtained from MESOWEST weather data server for 1998-2008

clear

clear

clear

clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Salt Lake City

Milford

Tucson Bryce Canyon

Weather Analysis:Cloudiness v MonthWeather Analysis:Cloudiness v Month

MonsoonsIn Tucson

Milford Salt Lake City

Bryce Canyon

MonthMonth

Month Month

Fra

ctio

n C

loud

yF

ract

ion

Clo

udy

Fra

ctio

n C

loud

yF

ract

ion

Clo

udy

Probability ofClear SkiesBetter in Summer

Site Survey/CharacterizationSite Survey/Characterization•Three Monitoring stations in field (2 equipped with U of U Meteorology weather stations)

•Measurements from:•Frisco Peak•Parker Mountain(2)•Boulder Mountain•Mount Dutton•Mud Springs Point

•U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permits acquired for Mount Dutton, Mud Springs Point and Boulder Highway sites

•About 10,000 miles of driving. Flat tires on “wicked roads”…

•Two “adversity-tested” undergraduate students

•Monitor 1:•Located on Parker Mountain•last data transmission on Jan 26,2008

•Monitor 2:•Located on Mud Springs Point•Repaired computer not installed in time before site became inaccessible

•Monitor 3:•Located on Frisco Peak•Still transmitting nightly data

Mud Springs Point

Weather Station and Seeing Monitor Weather Station and Seeing Monitor SystemSystem

Components• SBIG seeing monitor (basically a

ccd chip and SLR camera lens)• Low power 10W computer• timer switch• power distribution control

electronics• Deep cycle battery• 80 Watt solar panel (shell)

Weatherproof Box Housing Electronics

complete system

S.B.I.G seeing monitor

•Seeing and weather data as well as photos of Polaris collected nightly.• Transmitted each morning at ~5:30 AM through a Motorola cellular phone or Microwave link (State Telcom) on Frisco•University web page automatically updated daily with latest data and summary analysis…

Seeing at FriscoSeeing at Frisco

• Excellent Seeing conditions at Frisco Peak.• Rivals conditions in Chile, Hawaii…

Milky Way from Frisco Peak (Paul Ricketts)

South View from Frisco Peak Observatory Site

24 miles81 miles

Seeing MeasurementsSeeing Measurements

Frisco PeakMud SpringsPoint

Parker Cliff

Parker Off Cliff

Seeing FWHM arcsec Seeing FWHM arcsec

Seeing FWHM arcsec Seeing FWHM arcsec

Hou

rsH

ours

Hou

rsH

ours

Decision Taken!!!?? Frisco Bound…Decision Taken!!!?? Frisco Bound…•Primary site: Frisco Peak (BLM land). Frisco Peak looks to be the best in terms of atmospheric quality

•Casual use permit obtained from BLM for monitoring at Frisco Peak observatory site.

• SF-299 Permit requests for Frisco Peak to be submitted in June.

•Site preparation and construction: Site preparation and construction: Summer 2008Summer 2008

Southern Utah Observatory @ Frisco PeakSouthern Utah Observatory @ Frisco Peak• Elevation ~9700 feet Elevation ~9700 feet • Prominent Peak Prominent Peak • Excellent seeing Excellent seeing

conditions 1” typical conditions 1” typical (V band)(V band)

• Clear Dark Skies >22 Clear Dark Skies >22 mag/sq arc sec (V mag/sq arc sec (V band)band)

• BLM land/State landBLM land/State land• Existing Power lines, Existing Power lines,

road, internet (10xOC3) road, internet (10xOC3) to top and to lower 1 to top and to lower 1 sq. mile array sitesq. mile array site

• State Economic State Economic Development FundsDevelopment Funds

ee

Potential 1 square mile array site: 2100m a.s.lLocation: State Trust Land

Seeing MeasurementsSeeing Measurements

Month

Month

Ave

rage

See

ing

Ave

rage

See

ing

Frisco Peak

Parker Cliff

Seeing better during summerOn Frisco?