The 1-meter Holcomb Robotic Telescope (HRT)
The Holcomb Observatory houses a robotic one-meter telescope
used for undergraduate astronomy labs and student research
projects. Attached to the fully computerized telescope is a wide
variety of instrumentation including a large-format CCD and
photometric filters. AB Engineering recently completed
refurbishment of the telescope and it can now be run robotically
and/or remotely via the Internet assuming the remote observer has
the proper software. The Software
Bisque Suite provides integrated computer control of the
telescope, dome, filter wheels, and the CCD cameras. The telescope
can track to an accuracy of 2 arcsecond for 2 minutes without
guiding.
Instrumentation
| Optics |
| Manufacturer |
J.W. Fecker
(built 1954) |
| Primary |
0.95m f/4, approximately 13 cm thick, 180 kilograms |
| Secondary |
0.24m, 4X magnification |
| Optical Design |
Classical Cassegrain |
| Overall Focal Ratio |
f/16 |
| Mount Design |
Fork-mount Equatorial |
| Total Weight of Moving Parts |
2200 kg |
Guidescope
0.15m f/15 refractor (built ~1884)
Telescope Control
Software
Software
Bisque TheSkyTM (version
5)
Primary CCD Camera
Apogee
Alta E6; with Kodak
KAF1001E chip (PDF).
Dimensions: 1024 x 1024 pixels, 24.6 x 24.6mm, 24 micron pixel
size.
Dark Current, 0.05e- at -25
C, 16-bit A/D, 5.7x5.7 square arc minute field.
CCD Autoguiders
Apogee
Alta E2 & STV, STV is also used as a video finder on 6-inch
refractor.
Filter Wheels
Optec Inc.
Intelligent Filter Wheel (IFW)
Santa
Barbara Instruments Group (CFW-8)
Each has Cousins BVRI Filters
Motorized Focuser
Optec Inc.
Temperature Compensating Focuser (TCF-S )
CCD/Filter/Wheel/Focuser Control
Software
Maxim DL
(version 4)
Telescope Pointing
Model
Software
Bisque TPoint (accurate to 30 arc seconds)
Robotic Control
Software
Software
Bisque Orchestrate
Control Computer
OptiPlex GX755: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Enclosure
24' 6" diameter Ash Dome; 5'
11" slit width
Dome Control
Software
Software
Bisque Automadome
LAN communication
10 Mbs/sec