Some Listings of Robotic Telescope SystemsSome Programs that Utilize Robotic Telescopes
Resources for Building Robotic Telescope Systems
RTML (Remote Telescope Markup Language)
Systems Available for Purchase and for Development
An extensive listing of professional robotic telescopes
http://alpha.uni-sw.gwdg.de/~hessman/MONET/links.html
The RCT Consortium (RCT)
The RCT Consortium is the group of universities and research organizations who have assumed control of the 1.3-m telescope on Kitt Peak, in Arizona. The consortium consists of Western Kentucky University, the Planetary Science Institute, South Carolina State University and Francis Marion University. The telescope, originally called the Remotely Controlled Telescope, has been renamed the Robotically Controlled Telescope to reflect the change in operational control as well as the mode of use. Engineering testing is scheduled to begin Fall 2001 and science opperations are scheduled to begin Fall 2002.
Undergraduate Research Studies in Astronomy (URSA)
This is the University of Arkansas Robotic Telescope System developed by Claud Lacy. The system uses an LX200 mount and an SBIG camera, but all control functions are handled by custom software developed by the URSA staff. The system will accept observing requests from a web page and then schedule and obtain the observations and inform the user by email when the observations may be retrieved from the web. The URSA system is optimized for variable star observations. This system began "dumb" mode opperations in winter 2000. It is expected that remote observations may begin during winter 2001.
The web interface being developed for the URSA system is available in preliminary form.
URSA Web Interface: http://physics.uark.edu/ursa/
The Hanna City Robotic Observatory
This is an example of a small robotic telescope system built by Jerry Gunn of the Peoria Astronomical Society. The system is designed to opperate completely unattended. Observing requests are submitted by modem over phone lines. The system uses an LX200 mount and an SBIG camera. Jerry includes complete instructions and technical specifications on his web site for anyone interested in building a similar system. The Hanna City system is optimized for variable star observations.
This complete system has been moved to Yerkes Observatory and now contributes to the Hands On Universe program (HOU).
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Telescopes In Education (TIE)
The International Working Group on Automatic Telescopes (IWGAT)
This page is maintained by John Mattox to support development of an Automated Telescope Network (ATN). This includes broad specifications that can be accomodated by RTML. These specifications can also be accomodated by ATIS.
The Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT)
The Automatic Telescope Network (ATN)
This is the vision of John Mattox.
The Center for Backyard Astrophysics (CBA)
This is a network of small telescopes dedicated to obtain CCD data for cataclysmic variables (CVs). This extremely successful program has been in existence since the 1970s. They provide lists of recommended hardware, will share software developed by members, provide finding charts, and organize campaigns consisting of 2-3 targets observable from any point on the earth in any given month. Targets remain on the active list for a few months at a time. Special campaigns to obtain round-the-clock coverage are organized 2-3 times each year. Professionals analyze the data and publish papers which include the observers which obtained the data. Very productive. An excellent model for an informal network of obserrvers and telescopes.
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Software Bisque
Systems based on the Paramount GT-1000 telescope mount plus integrated software from SoftwareBisque. This software includes TheSky (sky simulation software), CCDSoft (CCD camera control plus image analysis and image processing), plus software to analyze the performance of a telescope mount and automatically control a telescope dome. An internet astronomy client-server system (IAS) is also available. Scripting is provided through Orchestrate.Orchestrate is a development environment for writing and running astronomy scripts. This scripting uses the Microsoft scripting engines VBScript (VisualBasic) and JScript. Orchestrate scripting uses RASCOM objects (Remote Astronomy Software Component Object Model). RASCOM objects were developed by Software Bisque, and this object library is included as part of Orchestrate. All Software Bisque software is capable of making calls to RASCOM objects if they are available.
DC-3 Dreams
DC-3 produces the Astronomers Control Program (ACP) and PinPoint. DC-3 is one of the originators of the ASCOM Platform.ACP provides an interface for scripting automatic control of telescope mounts and CCD cameras. Version 2 of ACP includes a builtin web server which can provide interactive access to a robotic telescope system over the internet. Version 2 also supports RTML. ACP uses the ASCOM Platform.
PinPoint is an astrometric tool than can identify star fields. This can be used to adjust telescope pointing and resync a telesope mount with the sky. It is routinely used to monitor and discover minor planets and to discover supernovae. PinPoint uses the ASCOM Platform.
Astronomy Common Object Model (ASCOM)
The ASCOM website is devoted to promoting the use of open scriptable tools for astronomy. The ASCOM Platform provides standard objects which can be used to develop scripts to control telescope mounts and CCD cameras. Some of the items for which ASCOM interfaces are available include the LX200 (Meade), AutoStar (Celestron), Paramount GT-1000 (Software Bisque), RoboDome (Technical Innovations, Inc.), and The Sky (Software Bisque).If you are considering developing a robotic telescope system, or considering upgrading an existing system to provide scripting capabilities or robotic operation, you should definitely consider adopting the ASCOM platform. ASCOM drivers currently exist for more than 10 different types of telescope systems. The supported systems range from inexpensive mass-produced telescopes from Meade and Celestron, to custom built professional quality systems. An introductory developers guide is available as well as an excellent Getting Started guide for those not yet familiar with scripting for computer control systems.
Automatic Telescope Instruction Set (ATIS)
ATIS is a language for controlling robotic telescopes that was developed at the Fairborn Observatory. ATIS is hardware and software independent, but software has been developed using ATIS to control a number of different telescopes. ATIS was developed to control telescopes for photoelectric photometry of variable stars, and has been extended to control spectroscopic instruments.Information is available which describes ATIS93, and a brief preliminary description for ATIS2000 is available. The ATIS website has some broken links and appears not to have been maintained. (July 2001)
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The Robotic Observatory Home Page
This is a resource site intended to serve those interested in building and administering small robotic telescope systems. The site contains reference papers, discussions of key topics, and free software. This site is maintained by Jeff Medkeff.
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Automated Observing and Reduction Tools
This is one of the pages available at the Astrometry at 701 page maintained by Jeff Medkeff. The Automated Observing page is committed to maintaining an exhaustive list of scripting software for robotic telescope control, plus analysis software for data obtained from robotic systems. Jeff wrote a recent article in Sky and Telescope about Automatic Asteroid Hunting. Available scripting systems include Astronomer's Control Panel with PinPoint (DC-3 Dreams), MPO Connections (BDW Publishing), and Orchestrate (Software Bisque). The Software Bisque system is available with an internet server.
Image Processing Resources for Educators
This is a list of software and other resources for science educators. Some suggested activities and student projects are included.
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