Guides and resources for the NRT and LT platforms
The New Robotic Telescope (NRT) is a 4-metre class fully robotic telescope being built by the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University. It will be sited at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, alongside its predecessor the Liverpool Telescope.
The NRT is designed to be the world's largest and fastest-responding robotic telescope, capable of being on-target within 30 seconds of receiving an alert. Its primary science goal is the study of explosive and rapidly fading transient phenomena.
The NRT consists of several key engineering subsystems, each designed for optimal robotic operation and rapid response:
Ritchey-Chrétien design with segmented primary mirror
Altitude/azimuth mount for rapid slewing
Autonomous robotic control system
MOPTOP, spectrograph, and multi-band imager
Clamshell-style protective enclosure
Live weather station data from La Palma
The NRT uses a Phase 1 / Phase 2 proposal system:
To submit a proposal, register for an account or log in to the platform.
The Liverpool Telescope (LT) is a 2.0-metre fully robotic telescope owned and operated by LJMU's Astrophysics Research Institute. Located at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma, it has been operational since 2004 and is one of the world's premier robotic telescopes.
The LT specialises in time-domain astronomy, providing rapid-response observations of transient sources including gamma-ray burst afterglows, supernovae, and variable stars.
The LT supports several proposal submission modes through this platform:
Semester-based proposals submitted during open call periods. Reviewed by the relevant TAG.
Fast-track proposals for urgent targets of opportunity, outside the normal semester cycle.
Director's discretionary time for proposals that do not fit within standard TAGs.
Ensure you select the correct TAG when submitting. For guidance, see Which TAG? on the LT website.
The Liverpool Telescope currently hosts the following instruments:
For detailed instrument specifications, visit the LT Instruments page.
The following external resources provide additional documentation for the Liverpool Telescope:
