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03 - Telescope Mounts

The document discusses various types of telescope mounts, including equatorial and alt-azimuthal mounts, highlighting their functionalities and limitations. It explains the mechanics of meridian transit telescopes and provides examples of different telescope designs. Additionally, it compares the advantages and disadvantages of equatorial versus alt-azimuthal mounts in terms of pointing accuracy and operational constraints.

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15 views

03 - Telescope Mounts

The document discusses various types of telescope mounts, including equatorial and alt-azimuthal mounts, highlighting their functionalities and limitations. It explains the mechanics of meridian transit telescopes and provides examples of different telescope designs. Additionally, it compares the advantages and disadvantages of equatorial versus alt-azimuthal mounts in terms of pointing accuracy and operational constraints.

Uploaded by

emergencyriccardo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Telescope

Mounts
Horizontal and Equatorial Coordinates

South

Nadir
Meridian Transit Telescopes
Telescope moves only in Declination
At meridian:
• 𝐻𝐴 = 0 → 𝑆𝑇 = 𝑅𝐴 HA = 0 so ST = RA
• ℎ =𝛿+𝜑
Meridian Transit Telescopes
The focal plane is equipped with a high precision
reticulum in order to accurately determine the
time the star transits on the meridian.
Meridian Room at La Specola
A fixed telescope on the meridian
is used to precisely keep track of
a b
time by observing stars with
known right ascension

a) An aperture on the
wall allows for the
observation on the
meridian.

b) A meridian telescope
is fixed in AR/azimuth
and can be moved only
in declination. This one
was fixed to a wall
along the meridian,
now demolished.
Meridian Radio
Telescopes

North Cross,
Medicina
Alt-Azimuth Mounts
Dobsonian mount

Dobson Telescopes: big,


cheap, portable, home-
made (except the mirror)
but not good for
astrophotography
Equatorial - German mount Hvar observatory, Croatia
Equatorial - German mount Hvar observatory, Croatia
Equatorial – Open fork mount Telescopio Copernico, Cima Ekar, Asiago
Equatorial – English or Yoke mount Wount Wilson Hooker Telescope, CA

Cannot point the


celestial pole!
Equatorial – Horseshoe mount Mayall 4-Meter Telescope, Kitt Peak, Arizona

MCAT NASA Telescope


Equatorial – Cross-axis mount
Telescopio Galileo, Asiago

The right ascension axis is supported at


both ends, and the declination axis is
attached to it at approximately midpoint
Alt-azimuthal mounts again…
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo: “Dobsonian” Telescope
Alt-azimuthal mounts again…
Alt-azimuthal mounts again…
Random telescope…

Gran Telescopio Canarias, Spain Very Large Telescope, ESO


Equatorial vs Alt-azimuthal ℎ̇ = −sin 𝐴 cos 𝜑

Equatorial Alt-Azimuth 𝐴̇ = sin 𝜑 + co𝑠 𝐴 tan ℎ cos 𝜑

Pointing is easy – directly Conversion of coordinates at


from coordinates with small every pointing
adjustment
Stars move along the Stars move both in azimuth
declination axis at constant and altitude simultaneously,
speed – ”simple” engine at variable acceleration
during the night
Equatorial vs Alt-azimuthal Alt-Azimuth view

Equatorial Alt-Azimuth

Pointing is easy – directly Conversion of coordinates at


from coordinates with small every pointing
adjustment
Stars move along the Stars move both in azimuth
declination axis at constant and altitude simultaneously,
speed – ”simple” engine at variable acceleration
during the night
No problems in point – except Cannot point at zenith –
the north pole degeneracy in azimuth when
approaching the zenith

cos 𝜑 cos 𝐴 𝐴̇ → ∞ at zenith


𝐴̇ = (h = 90°)
cos ℎ
Look at how the speed of the blue and
green object tend asymptotically to
infinite when approaching the zenith
Equatorial vs Alt-azimuthal
Equatorial Alt-Azimuth
Equatorial mount
Pointing is easy – directly Conversion of coordinates at
from coordinates with small every pointing
adjustment
Stars move along the Stars move both in azimuth
declination axis at constant and altitude simultaneously,
speed – ”simple” engine at variable acceleration
during the night
No problems in point – except Cannot point at zenith –
the north pole degeneracy in azimuth when
approaching the zenith
Alt-Azimuthal mount
Field is fixed Field is rotating
Equatorial vs Alt-azimuthal
Equatorial Alt-Azimuth

Pointing is easy – directly Conversion of coordinates at


from coordinates with small every pointing
adjustment
Stars move along the Stars move both in azimuth
declination axis at constant and altitude simultaneously,
speed – ”simple” engine at variable acceleration
during the night
No problems in point – except Cannot point at zenith –
the north pole degeneracy in azimuth when
approaching the zenit
Field is fixed Field is rotating

Larger and larger domes Dome just slightly larger than


the telescope itself

Top: Galileo@Asiago (EQ, mirror: 1.2m).


Bottom: Gran Telescopio Canarias (AZ, 10.4m).
Equatorial vs Alt-azimuthal
Equatorial Alt-Azimuth

Pointing is easy – directly Conversion of coordinates at


from coordinates with small every pointing
adjustment
Stars move along the Stars move both in azimuth
declination axis at constant and altitude simultaneously, E-ELT
speed – ”simple” engine at variable acceleration
during the night
No problems in point – except Cannot point at zenith –
the north pole degeneracy in azimuth when
approaching the zenith
Field is fixed Field is rotating

Larger and larger domes Dome just slightly larger than


the telescope itself

Limited at approximately As big as you can imagine


2.5 m (and spend)
GMT
E-ELT
Segmented mirror, diameter 39m, to be completed
in 2025 by the European Southern Observatory

E-ELT

GMT
E-ELT

E-ELT

GMT
E-ELT

E-ELT

GMT

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