Taiwan telescope parts set to arrive in Mexico - Taipei Times

The Trans-Pacific Two-Meter Telescope's (TP2m) body and its first multicolor imaging system have been completed, and are scheduled to arrive in Mexico this month, while work on its control system is continuing, TP2m project leader Chen Wen-ping (陳文屏) said at the weekend.

The TP2m project — a public crowdfunding campaign for an astronomy initiative, which aims to raise NT$30 million (US$951,324) — would enable near-continuous tracking of changes in the universe across time zones by forming a trans-Pacific observation network with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile and NCU's Lulin Observatory, said Chen, a professor in National Central University's (NCU) Graduate Institute of Astronomy.

After the Rubin Observatory detects a newly appearing object or one that suddenly brightens, TP2m in Mexico would track it before observations are handed off to Lulin Observatory in Taiwan, creating a trans-Pacific relay system, Chen said.

Photo courtesy of National Central University professor Chen Wen-ping

While some astronomical events last only a few hours, under the planned allocation, 55 percent of observing time would be reserved for NCU and Taiwanese researchers, while Mexican and other international collaborators would share 45 percent, he said.

The TP2m has a 2m aperture and a light-collecting area about four times larger than that of the 1m telescope currently in use, he said.

The new telescope is expected to support observations of major astronomical phenomena, including gravitational-wave counterparts and supernovae, he said.

Participating institutions include NCU, Academia Sinica's Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, with the San Pedro Martir Observatory the host observatory.

The telescope, which was initially funded from part of a NT$50 billion Ministry of Education plan more than a decade ago, was originally planned for installation at Lulin Observatory, but the project stalled due to environmental impact assessment issues, technical challenges and unsuccessful bidding processes, Chen said.

The telescope was later considered for deployment in Chile, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented local partners from completing the required infrastructure, forcing the plan to be abandoned, he said.

Dry weather, a high proportion of clear nights and stable atmospheric conditions, as well as well-developed infrastructure — including water, electricity, Internet access, accommodation and transportation — in Mexico were considered good conditions for setting up the telescope, he said.

After more than three years of negotiations with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the new site was finalized, he said.

The telescope was returned to its manufacturer for hardware and software upgrades, as well as the installation of a new focal platform, he added.

The project has encountered many unforeseen difficulties over the years, and the team has continued searching for ways to complete a project that has been nearly 20 years in the making, he said when asked about the need for crowdfunding.

"This is not just a research project or a piece of equipment — it is educational infrastructure," Chen said, adding that Taiwan should also possess uninterrupted day-and-night observing capabilities.

Europe, the US and Japan all place major astronomical facilities at favorable sites around the world, while South Korea, China and Thailand are also expanding their global observation networks, he said.

Taiwanese researchers and students need access to advanced facilities to participate in international observation programs and help cultivate the next generation of astronomers, he added.

The fundraising campaign marks the first time a Taiwanese astronomy project has used a crowdfunding platform to solicit small donations from the public, he said.

The team hopes collective support would help complete the final stage of the project and allow the long-awaited telescope to achieve "first light" after nearly two decades of development, he added.