1. A PLAN
FOR A NEW MULTI-WAVELENGTH
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY IN
INDONESIA
Taufiq Hidayat et al.
Bosscha Observatory – Astronomy Research Division
FMIPA – Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia
Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia,
Science Center Singapore, 1 March 2014
International Lunar Observatory Association

2. BOSSCHA OBSERVATORY- ITB: Optical
telescopes

3. 1930
1980
2005

4. Bandung as seen from Lembang: Light
Pollution!
20064

5. 5
Telescope Facilities
Bamberg
Refractor
Ø=37 cm, f=700
cm, f-ratio=18.9
Zeiss Double Refractor
visual: Ø=60 cm, f=1078 cm, f-ratio=18.0
photography: Ø=60 cm, f=1072 cm, f-ratio=17.9

6. 6
Telescope Facilities
Schmidt Telescope
"Bima Sakti"
Primary mirror (Ø=71 cm),
correcting lens (Ø=51 cm)
f = 127 cm, f-ratio = 2.5
Cassegrain GOTO
Primary mirror: Ø=45 cm, f=180 cm, f-
ratio=4.0
limiting magnitude: 15 resolving power =
0".23

7. Background and Motivation
 Bosscha Observatory has been more than 90
years old; needs „rejuvenile‟, modernization,
refurbishment, etc.
 Lembang, the site of the observatory, has
been totally urbanized. Lots of environmental
problems
 Needs to develop astronomical institution in
national level
 Bosscha Observatory plays a role as
„homebase‟ of Indonesian astronomy: history,
center of astronomy education, center of

8. Previous Proposals
There was a plan in 1980s :
 2 meter class optical telescope (van der Hucht,
1984)
 Giant Equatorial Radio Telescope (Swarup,
Hidayat, Sukumar, 1984).
Not yet realized…

9. Current Preparation
Since 2007:
 Site selection: site survey, site characterization,
site testing (3-6 years)
 Public outreach: astronomy olympiads, astro-
camp, star party, teacher training, etc
 National program: lunar crescent observational
services
 Astroclimatology: continuous study of weather
and climate and various parameters for an
astronomical site

10. GO EAST!
Site selection and evaluation
More than 30 mountain sites are evaluated

11. Clear sky fraction
Meteorological satellite data, 1996 – 2010 (GMS5, GOES9, MTSAT1R) Hidayat et al. 20

12. Mount Timau

13. Timor Expedition III (17 Sept. 2009)
Fatumetan (Lelogama), 123 59' 17.1'' E, 9 40' 35.9'' S, 1028 m
Mount Timau

14. Survey and Literature Study
 Regional planning – Province of NTT
 Regional Regulation
 Study of National Park, ekological , and thesis
 Environmental Study by WWF
 Biodiversity
 Geology situation

15. Site Testing and Survey
 Installation of Automatic Weather Station
 Installation of All Sky camera
 Internet and power plant
 Extinction and “Seeing” observations
 RFI survey
 Sky brightness measurement
 Geological Survey
 Public outreach program

16. Site Testing and Survey
(Cont‟d)
 Astrophotography
 Biological Survey
 Anthropological Survey  by University of
Nusa Cendana (local university)
 Aerial photography
 Advanced geological Survey

17. “Ekspedisi Timor” VIII-a and b
(2013)

18. Village Fatumonas, Kecamatan Amfoang
Tengah

19. Gunung Timau Zone

20. Geological Survey

21. Installation of Automatic Weather
Station

22. Observation of seeing and
extinction

23. Data on the Bosscha‟s web

24. Data on the Bosscha‟s web

25. Public outreach

26. Fatumetan, July 2013

27. Astrophotography (M. Yusuf)

28. Milkyway

29. Cooperation with local authority

30. Technical Development at
Bosscha
 Various radio telescopes
 Solar telescope
 Robotic telescope
 Refurbishment of Schmidt telescope using
CCD into large format

31. 31
Development: solar telescope
H-alpha Calcium Whitelights

32. “Teleskop Radio Hidrogen 6m”

34. RFI measurement at Fatumonas (May
2013)

35. Some results at Lembang

36. Conclusion and Further Work
 “Grand proposal” has been written, the first
decadal plan (2013: 90 years of Bosscha
Observatory)
 Can be split into separated specific proposal
 Fund raising
 Preparing young enthusiastic generation
 Science driver, science objectives
 Cooperation with regional network (ASEAN)
and international program

37. Thank
You