The Weizmann Fast Astronomical Survey Telescope (W-FAST): System Overview

Understand

A relatively unexplored phase space of transients and stellar variability is that of second and sub-second time-scales.

• We describe a new optical observatory operating in the Negev desert in Israel, with a 55 cm aperture, a field of view of 2.6x2.6 deg (~7deg^2) equipped with a high frame rate, low read noise, CMOS camera.
• The system can observe at a frame rate of up to 90HZ (full frame), while nominally observations are conducted at 10-25Hz.
• The data, generated at a rate of over 6Gbits/s at a frame rate of 25Hz, are analyzed in real time.