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    • TANDEM: a new SST station at INAF-OAS Loiano Observatory

    Paper number

    IAC-24,A6,A6.11,1,x82621

    Author

    Dr. Daniele Gallieni, A.D.S. International Srl, Italy

    Coauthor

    Mr. Francesco Manca, INAF, Italy

    Year

    2024

    Abstract
    TANDEM (Telescope Array eNabling DEbris Monitoring) is a cutting-edge telescope array recently installed on the G.D. Cassini telescope of the Italian INAF at the Loiano observatory. Conceived by Professor A. Buzzoni at the Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory (INAF-OAS) of Bologna, TANDEM is specifically designed for Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) applications.
The system comprises four f/3 Newtonian telescopes, each featuring a 350 mm aperture, 1.75 arcsec/pixel resolution with 9 micron pixel size, and a 2deg x 2deg field of view (FOV) achieved through a 4-inch Wynne corrector.
Each telescope can be independently steered in two angular directions on a shared equatorial mount. This unique design allows TANDEM to function optimally in two modes.
Depth Mode: all four telescopes converge on the same 2deg x 2deg FOV, maximizing the achievable magnitude by combining their capabilities. This configuration yields a limiting magnitude of V 18.5 in approximately 2 minutes of exposure, reaching V 20 in 30 minutes.
Wide-Field Mode: each telescope individually points to an adjacent field, creating a mosaic that expands the total FOV to 4deg x 4deg to enlarge the sky coverage for SST purposes. Furthermore, the combined field can be arranged into a 2deg x 8deg strip oriented along any desired sky direction to maximize the TANDEM follow-up.
Remarkably, A.D.S. International designed, built, and installed TANDEM, including its customized integration with the 1.5m Cassini telescope, within only 11 months.
In this paper we present the TANDEM design and its on-sky performances achieved on the G.D. Cassini installation. 
A standalone version of TANDEM is now available; it comes equipped with a comprehensive, proprietary control and acquisition software suite, enabling fully robotic operation. Such features position TANDEM as a valuable and cost-effective potential contributor to the global SST network.
    Abstract document

    IAC-24,A6,A6.11,1,x82621.brief.pdf

    Manuscript document

    IAC-24,A6,A6.11,1,x82621.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

    To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.