Multi-objective transforming telescope for wide-field optical monitoring of the sky with high-temporal resolution

Abstract

We present the design of a MegaTORTORA telescope (and its prototype, mini-MegaTORTORA, presently in construction at Special Astrophysical Observatory) -modular, multi-purpose, scalable grid of optical cameras based on commercially available objectives and fast CCDs, able to operate with sub-second temporal resolution in both wide-field monitoring regime with all objectives observing different regions of the sky as well as in narrow-field follow-up mode with co-aligned channels and installed color and polarimetric filters for detailed investigation of selected objects, and to change the regime of operation on a sub-second time scale.