[Previous] | [Session 87] | [Next]
D. I. Klebe (Colorado College), Colorado College Student Astronomy Instrument Team, Pikes Peak Observatory Team
The Colorado College Student Astronomy Instrument Team (CCSAIT) and the Pikes Peak Observatory (PPO) present preliminary optical and mechanical designs as well as discussion on a fleet of small research-class 0.4-0.5-meter telescopes. Each telescope is being designed to accommodate a variety of visible and near-infrared instrumentation, ranging from wide-field imaging cameras to moderate resolution spectrometers. The design of these telescopes is predicated on the use of lightweight primary mirrors, which will enable the entire optical telescope assembly (OTA) including instrumentation to come in under 50 kilograms. The lightweight OTA’s will further allow the use of inexpensive high-quality off-the-shelf robotic telescope mounts for future access and computer control of these telescopes over the Internet. The basic idea is to provide astronomers with a comprehensive arsenal of modest instrumentation at their fingertips in order to conduct a wide variety of interesting scientific research programs. Some of these research programs are discussed and input from the astronomical community is strongly encouraged. Connectivity and Internet control issues are also briefly discussed as development in this area is already underway through a collaborative effort between the PPO and the Cowan-Fouts Foundation of Woodland Park, Colorado.
If you would like more information about this abstract, please follow the link to http://www.pikespeakobservatory.org. This link was provided by the author. When you follow it, you will leave the Web site for this meeting; to return, you should use the Back comand on your browser. [Previous] | [Session 87] | [Next]