Adaptive Optics, amateur level?

anyone know of deformable-mirror telescopes (and AO computer tech) in planning
or production for the consumer-astronomer?

is AO practical in typical amateur diameter (say, 8-15 inch) mirrors?

jc

I don't realy think so, the price with all the needed hardware would be so high
as to be in Orbit.


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Freelance Writers Shop
http://www.freelancewrittersshop.netfirms.com
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
Ad World
http://adworld.netfirms.com

"Scribe2b" wrote in message
...

anyone know of deformable-mirror telescopes (and AO computer tech) in planning
or production for the consumer-astronomer?

is AO practical in typical amateur diameter (say, 8-15 inch) mirrors?

jc


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.528 / Virus Database: 324 - Release Date: 10/16/03

On 20 Oct 2003 19:06:19 GMT, (Scribe2b) wrote:


anyone know of deformable-mirror telescopes (and AO computer tech) in planning
or production for the consumer-astronomer?

is AO practical in typical amateur diameter (say, 8-15 inch) mirrors?

No. In order to control several segments of the optical path at the required
several hundred hertz (or higher) you just need more photons than are available
with a small mirror. Even if it was commercially practical to put together the
whole system at a consumer price, you'd still need to use it on a 1-2 meter
telescope or larger.

The best you can probably hope for with a small mirror is tip/tilt correction.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

Maybe not exactly what you are asking, but Sbig has recently started selling
an adaptive optics mirror system for use with CCD cameras. Best of all this
option only costs about $1000.

The product is sold as AO-7, see

http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/online.htm


On 20 Oct 2003 19:06:19 GMT, (Scribe2b) wrote:


anyone know of deformable-mirror telescopes (and AO computer tech) in planning
or production for the consumer-astronomer?

is AO practical in typical amateur diameter (say, 8-15 inch) mirrors?

jc

---
Gregory Phillips Seattle, Washington, USA

See http://voltaire.csun.edu/ao.html

This is only tip/tilt correction.

The price for such a system is going to be high for many years to come,
given the complexity of implementing the method and the way it's done now.
On the other hand, SBIG has something that uses a tilt-mirror assembly
instead of deforming the mirror, and this works reasonably well under
certain applications. Look on their website to see if they have more
information.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinprick holes in a colorless sky
Let inspired figures of light pass by
The Mighty Light of ten thousand suns
Challenges infinity, and is soon gone




"Scribe2b" wrote in message
...

anyone know of deformable-mirror telescopes (and AO computer tech) in
planning
or production for the consumer-astronomer?

is AO practical in typical amateur diameter (say, 8-15 inch) mirrors?

jc

In message , Ed
writes
See http://voltaire.csun.edu/ao.html

This is only tip/tilt correction.

"Only tip/tilt" correction is probably good enough for any amateur scope
in the sub 1m size class. You don't have enough photons to do more.

And good tip/tilt correction makes a big difference to the point spread
function on nights of moderate to good seeing. To first order in modest
apertures you have a sharp image flitting about rapidly.

That is why the cheaper alternative of frame grabbing video or web cam
and then registering them and stacking them by offline post processing
works.

Nothing will help if the atmosphere is boiling with bad seeing.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

Scribe2b wrote in article
...

anyone know of deformable-mirror telescopes (and AO computer tech) in planning
or production for the consumer-astronomer?

is AO practical in typical amateur diameter (say, 8-15 inch) mirrors?

jc
Crossposting to UKSA as I think the people there will be interested.

Not quite what you were looking for but perhaps a solution.

The Widescreen Centre in the UK http://www.telescopes-direct.com/has
had “Active Image” software (see below) for a while. I don’t know what
it’s like nor have I read any reviews of it but I’ve just phoned up for
a trial copy, trouble is the rest of my set-up is not complete yet.
Though I’m sure one of the residents of UKSA will jump at the chance and
feedback.
quote
“Active Image software for PC is a new astro imaging program using
artificial intelligence. Give it a whole series of images or an avi file
and let it produce the best possible image using all the best bits of
the best images only. Unlike all other programs in does not use a whole
image in stacking the images just those parts that are the sharpest.
This effectively means that the blurring of the upper atmosphere can be
removed. Try the trial CD by calling us in London on 020 7935 2580 or
email us for your free copy. “
/quote

HTH
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm





--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:22:25 +0000 (UTC), "Simon Pooley"
wrote:

“Active Image software for PC is a new astro imaging program using
artificial intelligence. Give it a whole series of images or an avi file
and let it produce the best possible image using all the best bits of
the best images only. Unlike all other programs in does not use a whole
image in stacking the images just those parts that are the sharpest.
This effectively means that the blurring of the upper atmosphere can be
removed.

This is indeed a form of adaptive imaging, probably the only method practical
with a small aperture. But it isn't useful for deep sky imaging, and it comes
with the penalty of throwing away almost all the collected photons.

This is a planetary imaging solution, only.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

"Chris L Peterson" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:22:25 +0000 (UTC), "Simon Pooley"

wrote:

"Active Image software for PC is a new astro imaging program using
artificial intelligence. Give it a whole series of images or an avi file
and let it produce the best possible image using all the best bits of
the best images only. Unlike all other programs in does not use a whole
image in stacking the images just those parts that are the sharpest.
This effectively means that the blurring of the upper atmosphere can be
removed.

This is indeed a form of adaptive imaging, probably the only method
practical
with a small aperture. But it isn't useful for deep sky imaging, and it
comes
with the penalty of throwing away almost all the collected photons.

This is a planetary imaging solution, only.

Hi Chis,

The techniques of selectively stacking the sharpest of short exposures can
be extended to imaging of stellar and brighter deep sky imaging. With
sensitive video cameras, stars down to around mag 12 can be imaged at video
frame rates in an 8 inch scope. The technique can work quite well for
getting cleanly split images of close doubles. It might be interesting to
try the software on extended stellar objects like globulars and open
clusters.

Robin