- ZTF is a robotic time-domain survey: It uses the Palomar 48-inch Schmidt Telescope for automated sky observation.
- Wide sky coverage: It scans approximately 3760 square degrees of the northern visible sky per hour.
- Depth of observation: It reaches median depths of g ∼ 20.8 and r ∼ 20.6 magnitudes.
- Data processing and alert system: The Science Data System at IPAC, Caltech, handles data processing and generates alerts.
- Rapid alert generation: Alert packets are made available within 13 minutes of observation.
- Advanced detection methods: It employs a novel image-differencing algorithm and machine-learned classifier for transient detection.
- High accuracy and precision: ZTF achieves high accuracy and photometric precision.
- Diverse scientific applications: It supports studies of supernovae, flux transients, variable stars, and solar-system objects.
Yamaoka 2016
- SNe are rare in a given galaxy