VERNONIA PEAK OBSERVATORY
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THE 12.5-INCH (31.7cm) NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR
THE 12.5-INCH NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR AT THE VERNONIA PEAK OBSERVATORY.
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THE 12.5-INCH NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE TO CORRECT A TRACKING ERROR. THIS PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE A SOFTWARE ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH A NEW DRIVE INSTALLED TO CORRECT MECHANICAL TRACKING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH AN OLDER ONE. ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT DIFFICULTIES HAVE LIMITED INTEGRATION TIMES FOR IMAGING APPLICATIONS A NUMBER OF IMAGES HAVE BEEN GENERATED OF BRIGHTER OBJECTS. SOME OF THESE ARE SHOWN BELOW AND MORE ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE NWAG IMAGE LIBRARY. IT IS HOPED THAT THE PERIODIC ERROR WE ARE ENCOUNTERING WILL BE CORRECTED SHORTLY.
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS: 12.5-INCH NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR
LENGTH OF CASSEGRAIN FOCUS:
LENGTH OF NEWTONIAN FOCUS:
AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTATION:
We will soon have the ability to remotely control and take images with this telescope from the internet. Under
construction is a set of web pages for a star chart showing where the telescope is currently pointed, controlling the
telescope drive using control paddles, controling the camera and autoguider to take images, and a chat room for
collaborating with other users and the operators.
Click here if you would like to explore this remote control
applicaton while it is under development.
ENGINEERING TEST IMAGES: 12.5-INCH NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR
CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL IMAGES TO SEE A LARGER VIEW
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FIRST LIGHT; THE FIRST IMAGE INTEGRATED WITH THE THE 12.5-INCH NEWTONIAN AT VPO (26 JUNE, 1998). THIS 20-SECOND IMAGE AND THE FOLOLOWING TWO WERE GENERATED USING A KF0400 CCD CHIP AND A CAMERA DEVELOPED BY SOUTHWEST CRYOSTATICS.
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ANOTHER 20-SECOND TEST IMAGE INTEGRATED 27/28 JUNE, 1998 AFTER A MARATHON EFFORT BY OUR ENGINEERING STAFF AT THE VPO.
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YET ANOTHER 20-SECOND TEST IMAGE INTEGRATED 27/28 JUNE, 1998 SHOWING SOME IMPROVEMENT.
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COMET LINEAR C2001A2 3.5 SECOND IMAGE INTEGRATED BY DUSTIN MOORE 22 JULY, 2001
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