Holding the Stars Still:An Inexpensive and Reliable Method
For Telescope Guiding
Jason Sanborn, Dept. Of Physics & AstronomyDr. Edward Bowell, Lowell ObservatoryDr. Bruce Koehn, Lowell Observatory
LL owell OO bservatory NN ear EE arth OO bject SS earch
LONEOS telescope is a 0.6-meter f/1.8 Schmidt Telescope with a 16 mega pixel camera capable of detecting 19th magnitude asteroids.
Methods for following celestial objectsMethods for following celestial objects
• Traditional trackingTraditional tracking
• Telescope Auto-guiding Telescope Auto-guiding
Method’s for telescope tracking
• Traditional tracking using weight driven clock drivesAccuracy: arcsecond
• Modern tracking using computer driven mounts
Accuracy: sub arcsecond
LONEOSLONEOS telescope trackingtelescope tracking
• Movie showing the tracking error of the Movie showing the tracking error of the LONEOS telescope.LONEOS telescope. Duration: 30 minutesDuration: 30 minutes
Field of View
Methods for telescope guidingMethods for telescope guiding
• Guiding using non mechanical meansGuiding using non mechanical means
• Off-axis auto-guidingOff-axis auto-guiding
• Auto-guiding using separate guide Auto-guiding using separate guide telescope with imaging capabilitytelescope with imaging capability
FLOWOF
INFORMATION
Hands Off Guider
Psuedocode for HOG software
Base_List_Length := 0; loop Get_Frame(Frame); Find_Frame_Sources(Frame, Source_List, List_Length); Match_Source_Lists(Source_List, Base_Source_List, Match, Match_Data); if Match then Report_Correction(Match_Data);else Base_Source_List := Source_List; Base_List_Length := List_Length; end if; end loop;
Hands Off GuiderUpgraded LONEOS guiding ability using HOGRequirements: Linux based CPU/Fedora Core O/S
Serial port or USB portVideo capture cardOne open PCI card slotCCD ImagerGuide telescopeTracking system with MOVE & HOG software
Before HOGBefore HOG Using HOGUsing HOG
Top Related