The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) data pipeline and workflow for transient discovery

Abstract Wide-field and high-cadence sky surveys are the first step in the chain of discovery and characterisation of astrophysical transients such as supernovae, kilonovae, and tidal disruption events, each linked to the varied demise of stellar systems. The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) is a telescope array of thirty-two 40 cm unit telescopes split over two almost antipodal sites. It performs a regular time-domain sky-survey in the optical to ~20 mag in addition to immediate scheduling of follow-up observations at the locations of external multi-wavelength and -messenger triggers. To facilitate the timely recovery of optical counterparts to these triggers, as well as the presence of serendipitous discoveries of astrophysical transients in the regular sky-survey, a low-latency data pipeline and workflow was developed. The implementation of this workflow is described herein and the quality of GOTO data delivered by it assessed, alongside its performance for prompt transient recovery. Utilising difference image analysis to identify candidate discoveries, the process is typically complete ~7 minutes after shutter close on the telescope. We further describe later processing of these candidates – both automated and human-in-the-loop – including reporting to the wider community and the triggering of more detailed observations, with a focus on immediate, intra-night characterisation. The workflow is meeting the needs of GOTO to promptly discover, report and characterise infant transients. Nevertheless, areas for further development and improvements are also highlighted.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
RAS Techniques and Instruments
Published
2026-06-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/rasti/rzag042
Primary Topic
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) data pipeline and workflow for transient discovery

J. D. Lyman, M. Pursiainen, Rob A. J. Eyles-Ferris, R. P. Breton et al.
RAS Techniques and Instruments
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
article

The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) data pipeline and workflow for transient discovery

J. D. Lyman, M. Pursiainen, Rob A. J. Eyles-Ferris, R. P. Breton, Mark R Kennedy, Or Graur, Gavin Ramsay, Thomas L. Killestein, Amit Kumar, L Kelsey, Jorge Casares, Martin J. Dyer, B. Godson, Ben Warwick, A Sahu, S Belkin, L K Nuttall, D K Galloway, D L Coppejans, E Stanway, S Mandhai, A Levan, J McCormac, S Mattila, C Phillips, M Shrestha, K Noysena, J R Mullaney, R L C Starling, D Pollacco, D Steeghs, D O’Neill, S Moran, E Wickens, P O’Brien, K Pu, V S Dhillon, K Ackley, M Magee, P Chote, R Kotak, K Wiersema, K Ulaczyk, D Jarvis, B Gompertz, L Vincetti, S Littlefair, D Mata Sánchez
article en

Abstract

Abstract Wide-field and high-cadence sky surveys are the first step in the chain of discovery and characterisation of astrophysical transients such as supernovae, kilonovae, and tidal disruption events, each linked to the varied demise of stellar systems. The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) is a telescope array of thirty-two 40 cm unit telescopes split over two almost antipodal sites. It performs a regular time-domain sky-survey in the optical to ~20 mag in addition to immediate scheduling of follow-up observations at the locations of external multi-wavelength and -messenger triggers. To facilitate the timely recovery of optical counterparts to these triggers, as well as the presence of serendipitous discoveries of astrophysical transients in the regular sky-survey, a low-latency data pipeline and workflow was developed. The implementation of this workflow is described herein and the quality of GOTO data delivered by it assessed, alongside its performance for prompt transient recovery. Utilising difference image analysis to identify candidate discoveries, the process is typically complete ~7 minutes after shutter close on the telescope. We further describe later processing of these candidates – both automated and human-in-the-loop – including reporting to the wider community and the triggering of more detailed observations, with a focus on immediate, intra-night characterisation. The workflow is meeting the needs of GOTO to promptly discover, report and characterise infant transients. Nevertheless, areas for further development and improvements are also highlighted.

RAS Techniques and Instruments
Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies (IE), American Museum of Natural History (US), University of Hertfordshire (GB), Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), University of Leicester (GB), University of Turku (FI), Universidad de La Laguna (ES), European University Cyprus (CY), The Open University (GB), Trinity College (CA), Trinity College Dublin (IE), University of Cambridge (GB), University College Cork (IE), Armagh Observatory & Planetarium (GB), University of Manchester (GB), University of Warwick (GB), Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (SE), Institute of Astronomy (RU), Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES), Monash University (AU), University of Portsmouth (GB), University of Birmingham (GB), National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (TH), University of Sheffield (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.