Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-fxdwj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-12T07:33:51.178Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Edinburgh Automatic Star Follower

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

G. R. Adam*
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory Edinburgh

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The automatic star follower or autoguider described in this paper was designed for the Edinburgh 40/60 cm Schmidt camera. The stellar image in the focal plane of the 15 cm f/18 guide telescope is split optically to produce four stationary images which are sampled by a single image dissector tube, whose sequential output signals are proportional to the intensity of illumination in each quadrant. These signals are compared to produce error signals which are a measure of the radial displacement of the star. Guiding corrections in both right ascension and declination are applied to the fine motions of the Schmidt drive mechanism.

Measurements made on a typical plate given an exposure time of 30 min, and using guide stars down to magnitude 8.5 indicate a guiding accuracy of better than 0.14 arcsec or 2 μm at the focus of the guide telescope.

Type
Part I. Control of Telescopes
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Observatory 1971

References

1. Alter, G., 1929. Z. Instrumenteny, 49 553.Google Scholar
2. Whitford, A. E. and Kron, G. E., 1937. Rev. Scient. Instrum., 8, 78.Google Scholar
3. Babcock, H. W., 1948. Ap. J. 107, 73.Google Scholar
4. Uttley, A., Jones, S. and Manns, L., 1948. Nature, 162, 144.Google Scholar
5. Babcock, H. W., Rule, B. H. and Fassero, J. S., 1956. Publ. Ast. Soc. Pacific, 68, 256.Google Scholar
6. Weitbrecht, R. H., 1957. Rev. Scient. Instrum., 28, 122.Google Scholar
7. Argyle, P. E., 1959. Publ. Dom. Obs. Ottawa, XI, no. 7.Google Scholar
8. Atwill, W. D., 1960. Electronics, 33, No. 40, 88.Google Scholar
9. Rome, M., Fleck, H. G. and Hines, D. C., 1964. Applied Optics 3, No. 6, 69.Google Scholar
10. Malkiel, S. and Baasch, T., 1966. Electronic Industries, Jan, 54.Google Scholar
11. Zito, G. V. and Malkiel, S., 1966. “Design Criteria of the Bendix Multi-purpose Star and Planet Tracker”. International Aerospace Instrumentation Symposium 4th Cranfield, Bedford, England, March 22nd.Google Scholar
12. Brown, G. W. 1966. R.A.E. Technical Report, No. 66033.Google Scholar
13. Reid, M. J., 1967. “A Two Channel Photographic Plate Guiding Control System”, M.Sc. Thesis, Arizona, University Department of Electrical Engineering.Google Scholar
14. Ball, W. F. and Hoag, A. A., 1968. Sky and Telescope, 35, No. 1, 22.Google Scholar