Remote Observing Experiments At Kitt Peak National Observatory

W. G. Robinson; P. L. Schechter; C. C. Janes

doi:10.1117/12.933525

4 November 1982 Remote Observing Experiments At Kitt Peak National Observatory

W. G. Robinson, P. L. Schechter, C. C. Janes

Proceedings Volume 0332, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes I; (1982) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.933525
Event: 1982 Astronomy Conferences, 1982, Tucson, United States

Abstract

For the past year Kitt Peak National Observatory has been conducting a pilot program of remote observing experiments. Observers who would ordinarily have travelled to Kitt Peak have instead observed from their home institutions. Three voice grade telephone lines are used. One line is used for voice communications with the telescope operator, another line is used to interface with the telescope computer which controls the telescope and instrument, and the third line is used to transmit a slow scan (34 second update time) television picture from the telescope field acquisition camera. Observers have found this system to be quite effective. Problems with telephone line noise have been encountered and several schemes for alleviating these problems are presently being implemented. Plans for more rapid video refresh rates over voice grade lines, the use of greater bandwidth communication links and the multiplexing of voice, data and video over single channel are presently being considered. The goal of the experiments is to investigate the effectiveness of this technique with respect to observing efficiency and cost savings.

Citation Download Citation

W. G. Robinson, P. L. Schechter, and C. C. Janes "Remote Observing Experiments At Kitt Peak National Observatory", Proc. SPIE 0332, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes I, (4 November 1982); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.933525

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