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Which observatories with ‑2m telescopes and spectrometers are suitable for observing the ISON comet?

I'm writing an observing proposal to obtain spectra of a comet's coma. Large 8m-class telescopes are over-subscribed and often overkill for a bright target. I need a list of potential facilities with 1m-2m telescopes that have low- to medium-resolution spectrometers and are accessible to astronomers via proposals, potentially through national or international time allocation committees.

 

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By Fathima M Answered 1 year ago

For a bright comet like ISON was, mid-sized telescopes are perfect. I would recommend looking into several classes of facilities. First, check national observatory networks like the LCOGT (Las Cumbres Observatory) global network, which has numerous 1m and 2m nodes with spectrographs. Second, consider university-operated facilities that accept external proposals, such as the Apache Point Observatory 3.5m (which has smaller partner telescopes) or the MDM Observatory's 1.3m and 2.4m telescopes. In Europe, the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG, 3.6m) has smaller national access telescopes. Your proposal should focus on the unique spectral coverage or temporal monitoring your science requires, justifying why a 2m class is sufficient.

 

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