천체 망원경의 자동화 : I. 컴퓨터 제어와 자동 관측을 위한 기본 설계 및 하드웨어의 제작

The small sized telescope can be best used if the control and observation can be made remotely and fully automatically by the aid of computers. We discuss the possible ways of automating the existing telescopes of various designs using personal computers. 'We have specifically designed the parts necessary to automate 16 inch Cassegrain Telescope at Pusan University Observatory. The degree of automation we have set for the present work is the interactive. remote observation including opening and shutting down of dome slit. The observational modes we have in mind are photoelectric photometry and CCD imaging. The basic components of the hardware are interface card for 16 or 32 bit IBM PC family of computers, relay switches for the control of telescope movements, stepping motor controller card for the control of observational equipments, and AID converter unit that accepts signal from sensors for the environment conditions such as temperature, wind speeds, precipitation, etc. We also have designed and built a photoelectric photometer that can be fully controlled by the command of a computer. Such observational equipment is also essential in order that the remote observation can be realized.