Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope
Encyclopedia
The Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT) is an automated telescope used in the search for supernova
e.
The KAIT is a computer-controlled reflecting telescope
with a 76 cm mirror
and a CCD
camera
to take pictures. It is located at the Lick Observatory
near San Jose, California
.
KAIT can take close to 100 images per hour and observe about 1000 galaxies
a night.
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
e.
The KAIT is a computer-controlled reflecting telescope
Reflecting telescope
A reflecting telescope is an optical telescope which uses a single or combination of curved mirrors that reflect light and form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered from...
with a 76 cm mirror
Mirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
and a CCD
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
to take pictures. It is located at the Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory
The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...
near San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
.
KAIT can take close to 100 images per hour and observe about 1000 galaxies
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
a night.
Discoveries
| Year | Supernovae | Novae | Dwarf Novae | Comets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1999 | 40 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| 2000 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 82 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 95 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 |