Taiwanese–American Occultation Survey
Robotic survey using occultations to probe small Outer Solar System objects.
The Taiwanese–American Occultation Survey (TAOS) is a robotic survey of the Outer Solar System that uses an array of four 50 cm aperture telescopes to monitor background stars for occultations by small objects. It is notable for probing Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) larger than about 500 meters in diameter and Sedna-like objects that are too small to be observed directly.
- Telescope aperture
- 50 cm
- Number of telescopes
- 4
- Location
- Lulin Observatory, Yushan National Park, Taiwan
- Sensitivity
- KBOs larger than about 500 m in diameter and Sedna-like objects
- Data volume planned expansion
- over 300 terabytes per year
- Partners
- Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Nat
Lore & Background
TAOS is a joint effort of multiple institutions, including the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, National Central University, Institute of Astronomy and Yonsei University, South Korea. The telescopes are located at the Lulin Observatory in Yushan National Park, Taiwan. The survey uses an array of four 50 cm aperture telescopes to monitor background stars, awaiting the alignment of an Outer Solar System object with a star target—an occultation. Small objects in the Outer Solar System that are too small to be observed by direct observations can be probed with this technique. Occultation surveys take advantage of diffraction effects during the transit of the occulting object in front of a background star to constrain the size and distance of the occulter. Currently, an expansion to the TAOS project is being planned called TAOS II, with a new meaning to the acronym: the Transneptunian Automated Occultation Survey. The data volume for TAOS II is expected to be over 300 terabytes per year.
Reader's Guide
The Taiwanese–American Occultation Survey is significant as a robotic survey dedicated to detecting occultations by Outer Solar System objects, particularly Kuiper Belt Objects larger than about 500 meters in diameter and Sedna-like objects. Its technique leverages diffraction effects during occultations to constrain the size and distance of objects too small for direct observation, providing a unique probe of the distant Solar System. The survey's array of four 50 cm telescopes at Lulin Observatory in Taiwan represents a collaborative international effort. The planned expansion to TAOS II, with its expected data volume of over 300 terabytes per year, indicates the ongoing development of this method for studying transneptunian populations. The survey's legacy lies in its ability to detect and characterize small bodies that are otherwise invisible, contributing to the understanding of the Outer Solar System's composition and structure.
Did You Know?
- TAOS telescopes are located at Lulin Observatory in Yushan National Park, Taiwan.
- A planned expansion, TAOS II, is expected to generate over 300 terabytes of data per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Taiwanese–American Occultation Survey?
TAOS is a robotic survey that hunts for small bodies in the Outer Solar System by watching background stars for the brief dimming caused when an object slides in front of them. It operates an array of four 50 cm aperture telescopes to capture these fleeting occultation signals.
Where is TAOS based and what does its hardware look like?
The survey is stationed at Lulin Observatory inside Yushan National Park in Taiwan. Its setup consists of four 50 cm telescopes working in concert to monitor starlight for the tiny dips produced by passing objects.
What kind of objects can TAOS actually detect?
It is specifically sensitive to Kuiper Belt Objects roughly 500 meters or larger in diameter, as well as Sedna-like bodies that are far too faint for conventional direct-imaging surveys. These targets simply do not appear in standard telescope observations.
Which institutions collaborate on the TAOS project?
The survey is a joint effort involving the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and The Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. This multi-institution partnership pools both observational and computational expertise.
How much data does TAOS generate and why is that volume so large?
The project is planned to produce over 300 terabytes of data per year as it continuously monitors star fields. That enormous throughput is necessary because individual occultation events last only a few seconds and must be caught in real time.
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