arXiv subjects

Alexander Hoogerbrug

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Hoogerbrug.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Proto-NUX: A prototype telescope for ground-based near-ultraviolet observations

The Near-UV-eXplorer (NUX) is a proposed ground-based, wide-field telescope array with a field of view of $\sim$70 square degrees, designed to operate over the 300-350 nm wavelength range and to achieve a target sensitivity of 20 mag in 150 seconds (5 sigma). Its main scientific objective is the detection and characterization of hot, rapidly evolving transients in the near-UV (NUV). Proto-NUX is a pathfinder instrument for NUX, based on an off-the-shelf 36 cm Celestron RASA wide-field astrograph that has been modified to enhance throughput and image quality in the targeted NUV band. The main objectives of Proto-NUX are: (1) to quantify the NUV sensitivity of the prototype and assess the feasibility of the full NUX facility; and (2) to characterize atmospheric extinction in the NUV, including its temporal variability and its dependence on zenith angle. Using three filter configurations, we aim to measure the wavelength dependence of the atmospheric extinction and to disentangle the contributions from Rayleigh scattering (dominating at wavelengths >325 nm) and molecular ozone-dominated absorption (dominating <315 nm). On-site testing is scheduled for 2026 at the Pic du Midi Observatory (France, 2877 m altitude) in order to evaluate on-sky performance under high-altitude observing conditions.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

On-sky commissioning and technical performance of Proto-NUX at Pic du Midi

The Near-Ultraviolet eXplorer (NUX) is a proposed ground-based observing facility designed to expand near-ultraviolet (NUV) astronomy by enabling observations in the 300--350 nm range from Earth. The full system is intended to consist of four modified 36 cm Celestron RASA telescopes with custom NUV-optimized optics and UV-sensitive CMOS detectors, providing a total field of view of about 67 square degrees for high-cadence searches for fast, hot transients. To validate this concept, a single-telescope prototype, Proto-NUX, was constructed. Its optical design and development are described in previous work. Initial sea-level tests in the Netherlands showed that the instrument could be operated successfully and that the main technical requirements were met. In March 2026, Proto-NUX was deployed at the Pic du Midi Observatory in the French Pyrenees, at an altitude of 2877 m, for its first high-altitude on-sky commissioning campaign. The campaign tested the full system under realistic observing conditions, including deployment, remote operation, calibration procedures, detector behaviour, image quality, tracking, ghosting, and simultaneous optical monitoring. The observations demonstrate that Proto-NUX is a viable platform for ground-based NUV observations, but also show that the system was not yet operating at its expected optical limit. In particular, the delivered NUV point-spread function was broader than expected, with likely contributions from residual collimation error, defocus, chromatic effects, and internal reflections. The detector dark current was also found to be a significant contributor to the noise budget. We discuss these limitations and identify the main improvements needed for future Proto-NUX campaigns and for scaling the concept to the full NUX facility.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

Spectroscopic Study of the Circularly Polarised Radio Source TYC 2834-1385-1: An Active Binary

Close binaries with active chromospheres have recently been shown to emit circularly polarised radio emission at low frequencies, motivating detailed studies of their orbital properties. We present high-resolution ($R=85,000$) optical spectroscopy of TYC 2834-1385-1, a previously unclassified radio source, obtained with the HERMES spectrograph on the Mercator Telescope. We identify the source as a double-lined spectroscopic binary and measure radial velocities from both metallic absorption and Ca II emission lines. We find an orbital period of $P=3.601\pm0.002$ days and nearly equal radial-velocity semi-amplitudes for the two components. The system exhibits strong Ca II H and K emission, which is consistent with a BY Dra-type binary containing two similar late-G/early-K main-sequence stars, with a preliminary classification of K0V. This represents one of the first spectroscopic confirmations of a chromospherically active binary following its identification in a low-frequency radio survey.

astro-ph.SR↗