Modular Robotic Telescope Project
Objective: Build a small telescope that can find and follow celestial objects.
It will have a quick setup time, and will be easy to modify and use.
In order to demonstrate and put to the test the skills we have accumulated in the ELM program at VTC, we are developing our own robotized telescope.
Specifications:
​
Precision & Accuracy
•Be able to point at objects in the night sky within .1 degrees after calibration. (getting a planet within sight when zoomed in)
•Have a tracking step size no more than 0.00014° (0.5 arcsecond)
Ease of use
•Setup time no more than 3 minutes. (<½ average setup time for go-to scopes)
•Be able to be set up and used by one person (<25kg)
•Point anywhere in the sky within 60 seconds (after calibration, just motor travel speed)
Functionality/Ruggedness
•Battery life no less than 2 hours of use. (low average for comfortable stargazing session)
•Durable materials for longevity (must be resistant to: humidity, shock, disassembly, material aging)
•Must function from 30°C to -15°C
•Must offer the possibility of modifying the telescope or adding to non-destructively