SMARTS–GSU 0.9-meter Telescope

The SMARTS–GSU 0.9-meter Telescope is operated by the Georgia State University Research Foundation. The Foundation also operates the SMARTS–GSU 1.5-meter Telescope. The telescope was formerly known as the SMARTS 0.9-meter Telescope and was operated by the Small and Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System (SMARTS) Consortium from 2003 to 2023.

The 0.9-meter telescope was constructed in 1965 by Boller & Chivens and is a closed-tube design telescope, with instruments attached at the bottom at the Cassegrain focus. The 0.9-meter is used for direct imaging with a dedicated 2048x2046 CCD detector. A CCD-based autoguider, which looks at a small off-axis field, is permanently installed. Standard BVRI and ugriz filter sets are available, as well as many other specialized filter combinations.

The 0.9-meter telescope is used primarily for the RECONS (REsearch Consortium On Nearby Stars) program, which measures the distances to nearby stars and detects unseen companions in orbit around the stars. RECONS has been performing these observations for 25 years, creating an unprecedented catalog of star measurements. The same images used to measure distances and orbits are used to measure brightness fluctuations caused by starspots, revealing cycles similar to our own Sun’s 11-year cycle.