CESAR Observatories

This is the centre from which all participating telescopes are controlled and the observation data is transferred so that it can be archived and distributed to the users. The Control Centre is split into two modules: the control module and the CESAR Data Archive.

CESAR Infrastructure Map (ESA/CESAR)

ESAC RADIO TELESCOPE

VIL-1 Antenna, a Cassegrain 15m parabolic main reflector fed with an S-band transmitter and an S-band receiver (S/S) located at ESAC.

Status: Operational, remote control

CESAR Vil1 34 metres antenna (ESA/CESAR)

CEBREROS OPTICAL NIGHT OBSERVATORY

A 50cm optical robotic telescope located at ESA's Deep Space Tracking Station in Cebreros.

Status: Waiting for hardware updates (current manual use)

Cebreros 50cm telescope (ESA/CESAR)

ROBLEDO OPTICAL NIGHT OBSERVATORY

A 30cm optical telescope located at the visitors´ centre of the NASA Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex Network (MDSCC) in Robledo de Chavela.

Status: Operational (remotely)

Robledo 30cm telescope model (ESA/CESAR)

ESAC SOLAR OBSERVATORY (HELIOS)

Consists of two telescopes, a 9cm Hα telescope and a small 10cm refractor installed at ESAC to perform solar observations during the day.

Status: Operational (automatic)

HELIOS Solar Observatory (ESA/CESAR)

Portable Solar Telescope (RA)

A 9cm Hα telescope and a small 10cm refractor, similar to the set-up of the Helios Observatory, are available to perform transient solar observations.

Status: Operational (for special missions, events and backup)

RA Solar telescope mount model (ESA/CESAR)

The CESAR architecture is flexible, so it can accommodate future instruments (new optical telescopes or radio-telescopes).

CubeSat control antenna

The antenna is installed on the roof of building A at ESAC. This position allows it to be as close as possible to the CESAR control room, where the control computer is located.

Status: Under commissioning and performance characterisation.

Cubesat Antenna (ESA/CESAR)