The Near-Ultraviolet eXplorer (NUX): a ground-based wide-field near-UV telescope to search for near-UV transients

Abstract

We present the Near-Ultraviolet eXplorer (NUX), which will consist out of 4 small (36 cm diameter) ground-based telescopes that are optimized for the shortest wavelengths that are detectable from Earth (i.e., the near-UV [NUV] wavelength range of 300-350 nm). Each telescope will have a field-of-view of ~17 square degrees sampled at ~2.6"/pixel, and will reach a NUV magnitude (AB) of 20 in 2.5 minutes exposures (in dark time). The goal of NUX is to improve our understanding of the physical processes that power fast (days) to very fast (hours) hot transients, such as shock-breakout and shock-cooling emission of supernovae and the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events. Each telescope will be an off-the-shelf 14" Celestron RASA telescope, retrofitted with NUV optics. We have already demonstrated that the normal Schmidt corrector of this telescope can be replaced by a custom made one consisting of NUV transparent glass. Currently, a prototype NUX telescope is being fully assembled to demonstrate the technical and scientific feasibility of the NUX concept. Site tests will be held (in 2025/2026) at La Silla, Chile, to determine the NUV characteristics of the atmosphere at this site.