The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is currently in an extended operational phase (ZTF-O4) aligned with the fourth gravitational wave observing run of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network. During this phase, the ZTF collaboration carries out a three-night experiment each month, focusing on different scientific objectives and survey designs. (AstroNotes 2023-349, 2024-59, 2024-96, 2024-123, 2024-135, 2024-172, 2024-216, and 2024-261)
The next ZTF experiment is scheduled from 2024-09-22 at 02:38 UT to 2024-09-24 at 12:43 UT. This experiment will survey a contiguous extragalactic region of about 12,000 square degrees in the northern sky, with nightly-cadence 30-sec exposures in the g, r, and i bands. The primary goal is to identify and classify newly emerging extragalactic transients (with the last non-detection 5 days before the experiment) brighter than g/r~19.8 mag (AB) for a coherent sample. The experiment will also test new observing strategies for future ZTF operations. Compared to the ZTF public survey, this special three-night experiment will also include the i-band filter and utilize all available on-sky time across the three nights to ensure complete coverage.
During and after this experiment, we will use the Palomar 200-inch telescope (DBSP) and the Palomar 60-inch telescope (SEDMachine) for coordinated spectroscopic classification of new extragalactic transients, aiming for a complete sample for transients reaching g/r~19.5 mag. As a public experiment, transient candidates and classification spectra will be promptly reported to the Transient Name Server. Real-time alerts will be released through the public ZTF alert stream; images and other data products will be accessible through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive. (https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/Missions/ztf.html).
Comments