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Main Authors: Priyatikanto, Rhorom, Putri, Gerhana P., Yatini, Clara Y., Rusyda, Isfahani, Akbar, Evan I., Admiranto, Agustinus G., Noor, Ferdhiansyah, Maryam, Siti, Elyyani, Rachman, Abd
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19023
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author Priyatikanto, Rhorom
Putri, Gerhana P.
Yatini, Clara Y.
Rusyda, Isfahani
Akbar, Evan I.
Admiranto, Agustinus G.
Noor, Ferdhiansyah
Maryam, Siti
Elyyani
Rachman, Abd
author_facet Priyatikanto, Rhorom
Putri, Gerhana P.
Yatini, Clara Y.
Rusyda, Isfahani
Akbar, Evan I.
Admiranto, Agustinus G.
Noor, Ferdhiansyah
Maryam, Siti
Elyyani
Rachman, Abd
contents Understanding the seeing conditions is crucial for astronomical observations using a ground-based telescope. This study analyzes long-term atmospheric data (2002-2021) from the ERA5 dataset to assess the seeing conditions at the new Timau National Observatory in Indonesia, which will house a 3.8-meter optical telescope. While the ERA5 dataset shows good agreement with radiosonde data for temperature and wind speed, it tends to underestimate seeing at Eltari Airport, Kupang. Despite this discrepancy, the ERA5 data suggest a median seeing of 0.79 arcseconds at Timau, with optimal seeing conditions in March and December and greater variability during the May to September dry season. These findings are crucial for the planning and operation of the observatory, which requires excellent seeing conditions for its three-band optical imager and a near-infrared camera. Although the seeing at Timau is not as good as some other observatories, the conditions at Timau make it an observatory that has good prospects for equatorial regions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_19023
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Seeing at Timau National Observatory Based on ERA5 Dataset
Priyatikanto, Rhorom
Putri, Gerhana P.
Yatini, Clara Y.
Rusyda, Isfahani
Akbar, Evan I.
Admiranto, Agustinus G.
Noor, Ferdhiansyah
Maryam, Siti
Elyyani
Rachman, Abd
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Understanding the seeing conditions is crucial for astronomical observations using a ground-based telescope. This study analyzes long-term atmospheric data (2002-2021) from the ERA5 dataset to assess the seeing conditions at the new Timau National Observatory in Indonesia, which will house a 3.8-meter optical telescope. While the ERA5 dataset shows good agreement with radiosonde data for temperature and wind speed, it tends to underestimate seeing at Eltari Airport, Kupang. Despite this discrepancy, the ERA5 data suggest a median seeing of 0.79 arcseconds at Timau, with optimal seeing conditions in March and December and greater variability during the May to September dry season. These findings are crucial for the planning and operation of the observatory, which requires excellent seeing conditions for its three-band optical imager and a near-infrared camera. Although the seeing at Timau is not as good as some other observatories, the conditions at Timau make it an observatory that has good prospects for equatorial regions.
title Seeing at Timau National Observatory Based on ERA5 Dataset
topic Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19023