A modular wide-field observatory node for distributed NEO survey networks

Abstract

We present the design and development status of a next-generation autonomous observatory node intended as the fundamental building block of a scalable Telescope Array for Near-Earth Object (NEO) survey, follow-up, and physical characterization. The system is being developed within the Telescope Array Functional Prototype activity, funded with ESA S2P programme, and aims to demonstrate a fully functional, autonomously operated unit. Each node employs two decoupled 0.6m f/1.7 optical assemblies, scalable to 2x 2 60cm OTAs. This dual-aperture architecture enables simultaneous survey and follow-up, multi-band acquisition, and image stacking for increased SNR, while preserving cost and deployment schedule constraints. Both telescopes are equipped with motorized Sloan filters slider and large-format sCMOS cameras based on the Sony IMX411 sensor. The camera is specially adapted for longterm, low-maintenance reliability and observation-unobtrusive cooling system. The node integrates a complete autonomous operation stack: weather-aware safety logic, redundant monitoring sensors, an industrial-grade control and networking subsystem, sub-millisecond time synchronisation (adequate also for SST/Space Debris Monitoring purposes) and FPGA-based image timing and preprocessing. The design goal is to achieve unfiltered detection of V = 21 mag NEOs with a single telescope, at SNR > 5 and single exposure below 60s. A validation campaign will be conducted at an operational site in Southern Europe. We describe the system architecture, component trade-offs, expected photometric and astrometric performance, integration challenges, the planned verification approach and further evolution of both the autonomous node and the whole network. The prototype will provide the first end-to-end demonstration of a modular, deployable, COTS-based NEO/SST observatory node suitable for large-scale, geographically distributed arrays. This will also be a crucial step towards Telescope Array based Observations+Processing as a Service model.