View source for TAROT-South robotic observatory

{{Infobox telescope}}
'''TAROT''' ({{langx|fr|Télescope à Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires|links=no}}, "Quick-action telescope for transient objects") is a project of the [[European Southern Observatory]] (ESO) aimed at rapidly reacting to particular data from other [[Astronomical survey|astronomical surveying facilities]] to monitor for and registering fast changing [[astronomical objects]] and phenomena. The target of this particular project is so-called [[gamma-ray burst]]s (GRB).<ref name="TAROT">{{cite web |url=http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/lasilla/tarot/ |title=Télescope à Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires |author= |publisher=}}</ref>

The '''TAROT-South facility''' is a 25 cm very fast moving optical [[robotic telescope]] at the [[La Silla Observatory]] in Chile. Able to accelerate at {{val|120|u=°|up=s2}} to a top speed of {{val|80|u=°|up=s}}, it can begin observing within 1–1.5 seconds<ref name=messenger>{{cite journal |title=The Gamma-Ray Burst Hunt at La Silla: The TAROT-S Very Fast Moving Telescope |author1=M. Boer |author2=A. Klotz |display-authors=etal |journal=The Messenger |date=September 2003 |issue=113 |pages=45–48 |publisher=ESO |url=http://www.eso.org/sci/publications/messenger/archive/no.113-sep03/messenger-no113.pdf}}</ref> of being notified by a [[gamma-ray telescope]] that a [[gamma-ray burst]] is in progress and can provide fast and accurate positions of transient events within seconds.

In addition to its own observations, an important purpose of the telescope is to find an accurate source location.  With its wide field of view, it can take an approximate location (±1°) from a gamma-ray detector and produce a location accurate to 1″ within a minute,<ref name=messenger/> for the benefit of follow-on observations by larger telescopes with longer reaction times.

It is a duplicate of the original TAROT telescope located at the [[Calern observatory]]<!--needs creating-->, in France.<ref name="TAROT" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
* [[Rapid Eye Mount telescope]], a larger, somewhat slower companion telescope also located at La Silla.

[[Category:Robotic telescopes]]
[[Category:European Southern Observatory]]
[[Category:Space Situational Awareness Programme]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in Chile]]


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