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10' Pro-dome from Technical Innovations. It is setup for automation and follows the telescope movements. The dome, telescope and mount are controlled / monitored from the 8' x 12' control house .

The mount (AP1200) is from Astro-Physics and is housed in a 10 foot observatory from Technical Inovations. The mount can carry up to 140 lbs of telescope and accessories. Once aligned, it has a pointing accuracy of 1 arc minute. The mount can be controlled locally with its own keypay or remotely from a computer.

Astro Physics AP1200 mount

12 1/2" carbon fiber Ritchey- Chrétien telescope from RC Optical Systems. The mirrors used are hyperbolic shaped and are very difficult to manufacture. The carbon fiber tube results in low expansion/contraction rates and superior focus stability. The primary mirror is fixed and focus changes are made through the secondary mirror (1 step change in focus moves the mirror .00002". There are fans that run automatically to keep the telescope at ambient temperature.

RC Optical Systems 12 1/2" carbon fiber tube telescope

This image of the STL-11000M is from the SBIG web page also. It has 11 million pixels (4008x2672) 9 microns in size. It also holds 2" filters. This camera also has a connection for a remote guide camera. Not shown is the 8 position filter wheel and AstroDon Monster MOAG (Manual Off Axis Guider)

SBIG STL 11000 camera

Precision Instrument Rotator--Used to rotate camera assembly to properly frame the image and to locate guide stars on the OAG (Off Axis Guider.

RC Optical Systems PIR (Precision Instrument Rotator) Red anodized

FSQ 106 original (SN 0032) and Gemini Mount--Mount was sold but telescope still in use and working well.

SBIG STF 8300 CCD camera (8.3 mega Pixels)

8 position filterwheel

Adaptive Optics

Star Chaser-2 off axis guider

ZWO ASI 6200 cmos camera (62 mega pixels)

7 position filterwheel

ZWO off axis guider

CCD Navigator -- New program used to determine what objects are available for imaging on any given day. Also provides thumbnail images of what the object looks like, when they are high enough in the sky to take images and what the position of the moon is at any given time. Over 28,000 objects are available. It locates guide stars and determines what position the RCOS precision instrument rotator must be at.

CCD Auto Pilot 5 -- Master control of all programs. Once data is entered, it will control the various programs to take "dusk flats, dark frames, various light frame images, more darks, twilight flats, find adequate focus stars, move the telescope to the focus star, perform the focus and then back to it's imaging position and then shut everything down when complete. Once everything is set, no one needs to be present . UPDATE--This program works great. I can leave the observatory and go back to the house to take a nap, watch TV etc. although I still go out once in awhile to make sure dew has not set in nor clouds.

Digital Dome Works--The observatory dome has now been automated with motors. This program controls motion of the dome so it stays positioned with the telescope. No more going out every 15 minutes to manually move it. Auto Pilot also controls this program to move the dome to the "home" position and then close the dome shutter.

MaxIm 6.0 -- Controls operation of CCD camera, guiding the mount, obtaining images. Also used to process images.

Sky 6.0--Controls the mount and is used to coordinate where the images are taken. This program also interacts with the other programs as needed.

CCD Soft 5--Used to "plate solve" (makes sure the mount is in the proper position and determines the angle the CCD camera is on. It can also be used in place of MaxIm 5.0 (listed above)

RCOS TCC (Telescope Command Center)-- This program controls the Precision Instrument Rotator to position the CCD camera at different rotation angles, controls fans and heaters on the telescope to keep it cool or prevent dew formation, control the focus motor either by itself or by FocusMaX.

CCD Inspector --New program used to align mirrors of the telescope, determine quality of each of the images taken.

PhotoShop 2023--This is used in the final steps of processing images. By using PhotoShop, it can change a "fair" image into an "great" image.

RC Gradient Removal -- Program used to remove color gradirnts in the image dut to light polution

RegiStar -- Program used to align image stars from different camera angles and focal lengths

Order placed for a Astro-Physics 160mm telescope. Order was placed on July 2002. Never received it--They stopped production