The TAOS program will place the entire system of three telescopes on a forest-covered mountain in Taiwan so remote that it can be reached only by helicopter. The telescope system will be completely autonomous, with its own independent source of electricity. Routine observation is slated for the year 2000. The three robotic telescopes will automatically monitor 3,000 stars every night for several years, consult among themselves to reject false events, and issue a warning if a collision course is detected. It could be the first warning humans have of impending extinction.
Some astronomers say they are the result of black holes gobbling up their companion stars.
Others say GRBs originate from the centers of young galaxies clear across the universe. No one really knows what GRBs are, but for the Mulherins, GRBs are an exciting path to the forefront of the now high-tech universe of optical telescopes. David A. Rozansky is a freelance writer and amateur astronomer. He is also an aviation journalist and a public relations writer for the manufacturing and engineering technology industry.