virtual observatory

Dear astronomers:

I think establishing a virtual observatory that can be controlled
remotely via internet is really fantastic. Is there any idea? What
kind of telescopes and from which company do you recommend? What kind
of CCD camera is more suitable? Most of the CCD cameras are exposed to
the object for a period of time but what should we do if we want to
observe a real time event like eclipse? What about the softwares and
motor drivers? What about the property of the network which transfers
the photos and information?

I'm eagerly looking for your ideas and experiences

Good Luck

On 26 Aug 2004 06:24:17 -0700, (hamed) wrote:

I think establishing a virtual observatory that can be controlled
remotely via internet is really fantastic. Is there any idea? What
kind of telescopes and from which company do you recommend? What kind
of CCD camera is more suitable? Most of the CCD cameras are exposed to
the object for a period of time but what should we do if we want to
observe a real time event like eclipse? What about the softwares and
motor drivers? What about the property of the network which transfers
the photos and information?

A "virtual observatory" would seem to be one where the data exists inside a
computer, and is presented to the user as if he were using a physical
observatory. Such databases are under development.

A "robotic observatory" or "remote observatory" is what I think you are talking
about. Many professional observatories are now robotic, and an increasing number
of amateur ones. They are readily built from off-the-shelf equipment and
software. In principle, they are fairly simple. In practice, most of the
complexity comes from the high degree of redundancy and security that needs to
be incorporated into all the moving parts to avoid damage.

There are at least two approaches to control. Where the observatory is
completely private, it can be controlled across a private network. I use this
method, with the control apps running on the user's computer and sending the
control signals for the instruments across the network. Where the observatory is
available to more users, it is generally best to incorporate all of the low
level control on some other server, and provide a simple interface to the user
whereby they simply define the details of their imaging session, and the remote
server handles the details. This approach is used in all the commercial robotic
observatories. In most cases the remote users access the control server via
Internet.

For viewing real-time events, it would only be necessary to include a piggyback
scope with a video camera.

_________________________________________________

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

There are several software packages developed for remote operation of
observatories. I'm most familiar with
Diffraction Limited's "ACP" (Astronomy Control Program). This integrates
with Maxim DL/CCD for camera control
and image management, PinPoint for automated plate solutions, FocusMax for
automated focusing, and The Sky for
a plaentarium and sky database. It includes Internet control (two way)
native to the package.

Several common mounts are adequate, and I'm sure there are others. Perhaps
the most suitable for robotic control
is Software Bisque's "Paramount ME", designed from the start as a robotic
mount. The AstroPhysics series are also
very good, with a somewhat high instrument load rating (AP1200 for up to
150#, AP900 for up to 70#), and finally the
value leader is Losmandy "G11" which, at $3200 with Gemini controller, is a
real bargain (load rateing about 55#).

Net access may be a problem. If you have cable or even DSL it will work
fine. Satellite interface is questionable it's OK
on the downlink but very slow on the uplinks.

In general, this is not an inexpensive proposition. You need an automated
dome or roll-off roof building (at least $5000), a mount
($9100 for an AP1200, $12,500 for a Paramount), software ($1200), and
utilities, including power and network interface, in
addition to the instruments. A middle of the road CCD with filter wheel
and filters is $6000, a similar guide scope and guide camera is
$1500,, and SBIG spectrograph is $5000.

Of course all of these prices are flexible, but this really is not
overkill - most likely by the time everything is working remotely one would
have spent more.
Have a look on the web at Ron Wodowski's setup for an example. He's got an
expensive scope (a 20" RC) but otherwise pretty standard stuff.



"hamed" wrote in message
om...
Dear astronomers:

I think establishing a virtual observatory that can be controlled
remotely via internet is really fantastic. Is there any idea? What
kind of telescopes and from which company do you recommend? What kind
of CCD camera is more suitable? Most of the CCD cameras are exposed to
the object for a period of time but what should we do if we want to
observe a real time event like eclipse? What about the softwares and
motor drivers? What about the property of the network which transfers
the photos and information?

I'm eagerly looking for your ideas and experiences

Good Luck