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Virtual Astronomical Site Selection Workshop
for Egyptian Large Optical Telescope (ELOT)
June 9-10/2020
This scientific workshop was initially scheduled to take place early April in Cairo, but its format is changed to an online webinar from 9 to 10 June 2020. This workshop is jointly organized by the “National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG)” and the “Arab Astronomical Society (ArAS)”.
Eminent world specialists in astronomical sites prospection and qualification will participate in this online workshop. A round table at the end of the workshop is also scheduled. The resolutions and recommendations of which will be reported to the Egyptian officials in charge of the Egyptian Large Optical Telescope (ELOT) project which aims at constructing a 6 meters optical telescope observatory in Egypt.
About Workshop
This Workshop aims to draw up a roadmap on how to identify geographical areas that could lead to potential sites to host ELOT
We would like to let benefit astronomers in this region from experiences carried out elsewhere, particularly from the site selection programs in the framework of the Egyptian Large Optical Telescope
Topics:
– Astronomical optical turbulence – Sky Transparency – Sky Darkness – Light Pollution – Weather Conditions – Site Surveys
– Astroclimatic Stations (with technical session)
Workshop link https://zoom.us/j/93936855209 Meeting ID 939 3685 5209
Sessions
The Workshop program
(Qairo Time = UTC+2 )
Tuesday 9 June Meeting recording 1st session – 2 session – 3rd session
10h00-10h 15 : Opening speech: ELOT idea and concept, Gad EL-QADY (NRIAG)
10h15- 11h00 : Site pre-Selected for ELOT, Gamal Eldin Nageeb (NRIAG)
11h00- 12h00 : Parameters and technics for site characterization: lessons learned, Casiana Muñoz-Tuñon (IAC)
12h15- 13h15 : The Objectives and Tools of Site Monitoring at ESO, Marc Sarazin (ESO)
13h15- 14h15 : 1.Extinction, dust and aerosols 2. Light pollution, Sergio Ortolani (UNI-Pd)
Wednesday 10 June Meeting recording 1st session – 2 session – 3rd session – 4th session
10h00- 11h00 : The construction of the GTC, Jose Rodriguez-Espinosa (IAC)
11h00- 12h00 : Astronomical Site Selection for Africa and Middle East region, Benkhaldoun Zouhair (UCA/ArAS)
12h15- 13h15 : General Talk, David Valls-Gabaud (OP)
13h15- 14h15 : Round Table: Open Discussion and resolutions
Recommandations
– Set the key science cases for the ELOT
– Define the scientific programs of the future Telescope.
– Develop local expertise for technical support in the construction of the Telescope.
– Offer Ph.D. and Master on the theme of “Site Testing”
– Take advantage of regional expertise in the field and ongoing projects on “Dark Sky”
– Take advantage of intra-African and international mobility programs to send Egyptian researchers for training in large Observatories (Canaries, Chile, Hawai …)
– Use the available prospecting tools (Meteorological Databases, Sattelites data (Aerosols and light pollution), to refine the sites selection.
– Start in situ measurements with basic instrumentation (AWS Station, Seeing Monitor, AllSky, …).