Transient optical sky survey automated telescope system

Elena Hadjiyska; Philip Lubin; Scott Taylor; Gary Hughes

doi:10.1117/12.786428

17 July 2008 Transient optical sky survey automated telescope system

Elena Hadjiyska, Philip Lubin, Scott Taylor, Gary Hughes

Proceedings Volume 7012, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II; 70122P (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.786428
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

We describe the optical design of a sky survey system comprised of small aperture telescope tube assemblies mounted on a common semi-equatorial frame with a single polar axis. It is the first ground-based instrument to create a map of transients down to optical m=17 by imaging a fixed-declination strip of the sky on a nightly basis. The system is fully remotely automated and physically robust. The mount tracks the sky using a motion controller, drive motor, and a laser rotary encoder. The prototype configuration is suited to house up to 6 telescopes on the current mount and is easily expandable to accommodate up to 30 telescopes which would enable full sky coverage if one system each were placed in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres¹.

Citation Download Citation

Elena Hadjiyska, Philip Lubin, Scott Taylor, and Gary Hughes "Transient optical sky survey automated telescope system", Proc. SPIE 7012, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II, 70122P (17 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.786428

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