SMARTS: Small and Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System


***** SMARTS CLOSURE *****

AURA forced a closure of all four SMARTS telescopes, effective at the end of FY2023. We at SMARTS were informed of the closure on 12 SEP 2023. All 1.5m data were pipelined and delivered by 07 NOV 2023.

We have continued to work with AURA to resolve outstanding issues to reopen SMARTS telescopes. While SMARTS personnel have deliver three drafts of agreements in April 2023, November 2023, and February 2024, AURA remains unable to address issues on their side.

We remain ready and able to continue operations and would like to see the science continue to flow from all four SMARTS telescopes, but AURA will not allow us to secure observations for you at this time.

Todd Henry, SMARTS Director

Wei-Chun Jao, SMARTS 1.5m Operations Manager


The photo at the top of the page was taken by Matthias Dietrich on the night of 24 April 2003 using a Canon camera with 15 mm lens (focal ratio 2.8), exposing for 90 minutes on Fuji ASA 200 film. Three SMARTS telescopes can be seen: the CTIO 0.9m is on the right, the Yale 1.0m is on the left, and the CTIO 1.5m is second from the right. The fuzzy reddish region in the upper left and center is the light from the Milky Way Galaxy.

 
Home | Resources | Publications | Press | Reductions