[2] Attached to each telescope is a focuser, filter wheel, and a Finger Lakes Instrumentation (FLI) ML50100 camera,[2] based on the Onsemi KAF-50100 CCD sensor.

[9] In addition to follow-up of gravitational wave events, GOTO can respond to detections of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).

[7] The first phase of GOTO's development was the deployment of a prototype system located at the planned site of the northern node, consisting of four unit telescopes on a custom-built mount.

[7] The prototype system was deployed during the second LIGO-Virgo Collaboration (LVC) observing run (O2), achieving first light in June 2017[7] with its official inauguration on July 3, 2017.

[14] During this time GOTO was able to respond to gravitational-wave events and begin observing within one minute of alerts being received (if the source region was visible).

[19] By the end of 2022 the site for the second GOTO node (GOTO-S) had been prepared at Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) and the two domes installed.

[22] As of January 29, 2025, data from GOTO has been used in the discovery of 1,845 astronomical transients, of which 267 have been classified as supernovae and two as tidal disruption events.

[23][24][25] Kilonova Seekers is a citizen science project on the Zooniverse platform designed to assist GOTO in identifying real astrophysical transients.