1. Utah Telescope Site Selection 2008 D. Kieda, S. Lebohec, W. Springer, P. Gondolo, K. Martens, P. Gondolo, P. Ricketts, C. Zimmer University of Utah

2. Southern Utah Telescope Status Telescope has been purchased!!! DFM engineering of Longmont, CO has been awarded the contract http://www.dfmengineering.com http://www.dfmengineering.com Fabrication Underway –Primary Mirror cell complete and shipped to mirror manufacturer –Pier Bolt Jig complete and ready to ship –Various other parts continue through manufacturing process Delivery/Installation scheduled for Summer 2009 Site Selection 2007-2008

3. Site Selection Explored MANY potential observatory sites (from Frisco peak to the Henry Mountains) 1984 Kitt Peak Site Survey: Frisco Peak + others in UT “Seeing” Measurements from 6 locations Salt Lake City

4. Utah Precipitation Pattern Frisco Peak Mud Springs Point Parker Cliff Frisco receives About 1/2 the precipitation of Parker and Mud Springs

5. Weather Analysis: Cloudiness Milford, Tuscon Bryce Canyon >2x more likely to be clear than Salt Lake City Data obtained from MESOWEST weather data server for 1998-2008 clear Not clear Salt Lake City Milford Tucson Bryce Canyon

6. Weather Analysis:Cloudiness v Month Monsoons In Tucson MilfordSalt Lake City Bryce Canyon Month Fraction Cloudy Probability of Clear Skies Better in Summer

7. Site Survey/Characterization Three Monitoring stations in field (2 equipped with U of U Meteorology weather stations) Measurements from: Frisco Peak Parker Mountain(2) Boulder Mountain Mount Dutton Mud Springs Point U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permits acquired for Mount Dutton, Mud Springs Point and Boulder Highway sites About 10,000 miles of driving. Flat tires on “wicked roads”… Two “adversity-tested” undergraduate students Monitor 1: Located on Parker Mountain last data transmission on Jan 26,2008 Monitor 2: Located on Mud Springs Point Repaired computer not installed in time before site became inaccessible Monitor 3: Located on Frisco Peak Still transmitting nightly data Mud Springs Point

8. Weather Station and Seeing Monitor System Components SBIG seeing monitor (basically a ccd chip and SLR camera lens) Low power 10W computer timer switch power distribution control electronics Deep cycle battery 80 Watt solar panel (shell) Weatherproof Box Housing Electronics complete system S.B.I.G seeing monitor Seeing and weather data as well as photos of Polaris collected nightly.photos of Polaris Transmitted each morning at ~5:30 AM through a Motorola cellular phone or Microwave link (State Telcom) on Frisco University web page automatically updated daily with latest data and summary analysis…

9. Seeing at Frisco Excellent Seeing conditions at Frisco Peak. Rivals conditions in Chile, Hawaii… Milky Way from Frisco Peak (Paul Ricketts) South View from Frisco Peak Observatory Site 24 miles 81 miles

10. Seeing Measurements Frisco Peak Mud Springs Point Parker Cliff Parker Off Cliff Seeing FWHM arcsec Hours

11. Decision Taken!!!?? Frisco Bound… Primary site: Frisco Peak (BLM land). Frisco Peak looks to be the best in terms of atmospheric quality Casual use permit obtained from BLM for monitoring at Frisco Peak observatory site. SF-299 Permit requests for Frisco Peak to be submitted in June. Site preparation and construction: Summer 2008Site preparation and construction: Summer 2008

12. Southern Utah Observatory @ Frisco Peak Elevation ~9700 feetElevation ~9700 feet Prominent PeakProminent Peak Excellent seeing conditions 1” typical (V band)Excellent seeing conditions 1” typical (V band) Clear Dark Skies >22 mag/sq arc sec (V band)Clear Dark Skies >22 mag/sq arc sec (V band) BLM land/State landBLM land/State land Existing Power lines, road, internet (10xOC3) to top and to lower 1 sq. mile array siteExisting Power lines, road, internet (10xOC3) to top and to lower 1 sq. mile array site State Economic Development FundsState Economic Development Fundse Potential 1 square mile array site: 2100m a.s.l Location: State Trust Land

13. Seeing Measurements Month Average Seeing Frisco Peak Parker Cliff Seeing better during summer On Frisco?