Flexible off-axis acquisition and guidance system

Anamparambu N. Ramaprakash; Ranjan Gupta; S. N. Tandon

doi:10.1117/12.308808

26 May 1998 Flexible off-axis acquisition and guidance system

Anamparambu N. Ramaprakash, Ranjan Gupta, S. N. Tandon

Proceedings Volume 3351, Telescope Control Systems III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.308808
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

While the new, very large optical/IR telescopes setal most of the astronomical limelight, the relevance of smaller telescopes till remain undiminished as far as scientific output is concerned. Mature technology an reduced competition for observing time allow these telescopes and their backed instruments to be fine tuned for specific scientific programs. In order to maximize returns, it is essential to reduce time overheads in pointing and acquisition and ensure that the telescopes spend most of the time observing the targets. A sensitive and accurate auto- guidance system is another necessity. We have developed an acquisition and guidance system, which is flexible enough to be used with a wide variety of instruments at the different existing and planned telescopes in India. An implementation of this system, as part of an imaging polarimeter, has been working successfully for quite some time now. When used with a 1.2 m, f/13 telescope, this system is capable of acquiring the target within a few arcseconds and tracking, with subarcsecond accuracy, on stars as faint as V equals 15, available anywhere in a scan area of 0.05 square degrees, within about 15 arcminutes of the target.

Citation Download Citation

Anamparambu N. Ramaprakash, Ranjan Gupta, and S. N. Tandon "Flexible off-axis acquisition and guidance system", Proc. SPIE 3351, Telescope Control Systems III, (26 May 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.308808

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