The Near-Ultraviolet Explorer (NUX): a ground-based wide-field near-UV telescope to search for near-UV transients

Rudy Wijnands; Steven Bloemen; Rasjied Sloot; Rik ter Horst; André Young; Mattijs Bakker; Paul Groot; Paul Vreeswijk

doi:10.1117/12.3014675

11 September 2024 The Near-Ultraviolet Explorer (NUX): a ground-based wide-field near-UV telescope to search for near-UV transients

Rudy Wijnands, Steven Bloemen, Rasjied Sloot, Rik ter Horst, André Young, Mattijs Bakker, Paul Groot, Paul Vreeswijk

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X; 1309430 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3014675
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Conference Poster

Abstract

We present the Near-Ultraviolet eXplorer (NUX), which will consist out of 4 small (36cm diameter) ground-based telescopes that are optimized for the shortest wavelengths that are detectable from Earth (i.e., the near-UV [NUV] wavelength range of 300-350nm). Each telescope will have a field-of-view of ∼17 square degrees sampled at ∼2.6”/pixel, and will reach a NUV magnitude (AB) of 20 in 2.5 minutes exposures (in dark time). The goal of NUX is to improve our understanding of the physical processes that power fast (days) to very fast (hours) hot transients, such as shock-breakout and shock-cooling emission of supernovae and the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events. Each telescope will be an off-the-shelf 14” Celestron RASA telescope, retrofitted with NUV optics. We have already demonstrated that the normal Schmidt corrector of this telescope can be replaced by a custom made one consisting of NUV transparent glass. Currently, a prototype NUX telescope is being fully assembled to demonstrate the technical and scientific feasibility of the NUX concept. Site tests will be held (in 2025/2026) at La Silla, Chile, to determine the NUV characteristics of the atmosphere at this site.

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

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Rudy Wijnands, Steven Bloemen, Rasjied Sloot, Rik ter Horst, André Young, Mattijs Bakker, Paul Groot, and Paul Vreeswijk "The Near-Ultraviolet Explorer (NUX): a ground-based wide-field near-UV telescope to search for near-UV transients", Proc. SPIE 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X, 1309430 (11 September 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3014675

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