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Heliostats and Siderostats for Solar,
Planetary and Lunar Observations
ObservatoryScope's heliostats and siderostats
were specifically designed to utilize proven off-the-shelf components wherever
possible. Our design philosophy offers several unique advantages: substantially
lower cost, significantly shorter manufacturing times, plus the highest
possible performance to price ratio available from any manufacturer.
Our heliostats are not primarily limited to
daytime solar observations. These instruments may also be used for a variety of
nighttime observations of brighter celestial targets such as the Moon, the
planets, double stars, bright minor planets, plus the brighter nebulae, star
clusters and galaxies. The heliostat's 5" refractor is capable of providing
splendid views of the Moon and the planets.
Our siderostats, due to their larger apertures,
offer far greater flexibility since they are far more suited for nighttime
celestial observations in addition to their inherent solar capabilities. The
Coronado SolarMax 90 Package is offered as an optional accessory since many
institutions may wish to purchase a siderostat strictly for indoor nighttime
celestial observing and instruction.
A Recently Completed Heliostat
Installation
Shown below is a recently completed heliostat
installation for a community college. The college also has a fully steerable
radio telescope which is located only fifty feet from the heliostat. Radio
interference from the heliostat's operation is almost nonexistent since the
heliostat's drive system electronics are contained within the heliostat's fully
shielded computer case. Additionally, the forty plus foot stepper motor control
cables use fully shielded twisted pair wiring.
- Tracking Platform: Meade 8" LX-200 fork mount
retrofitted with stepper motors and reduction gears.
- Hour Angle Limits: ±8.99 hour angle from
prime meridian.
- Declination Limits: +70° to -30° of
celestial equator.
- Optical System: Conventional heliostat optical
path utilizing an optical flat for target acquisition and tracking, a relay
optical flat to redirect the light beam vertically downward to a refractor
objective, and an observer's station located at the refractor's focal plane
within the building's control room.
- Optical Flat Specifications: 8" diameter, 1/8 wave
RMS or better.
- Refractor Specifications: D&G Optical 5"
diameter F/12 objective with a 90mm sub-aperture used for solar observations,
and full aperture used for celestial observations at night.
- H-alpha Viewing Equipment: Coronado Technology
Group SolarMax 90 Package.
- Drive System Electronics: ComSoft PC-TCS stepper
motor control system located within the control room.
- Standard Accessories: H-alpha viewing equipment;
45° diagonal; low, medium and high power eyepieces.
- Instrument Enclosure: Flip-off canopy design
featuring welded steel frame and sheet metal skin construction.
- Price, excluding applicable taxes, shipping and
installation costs; Manufacturing Time:
| 5" Aperture Heliostat |
$48,000.00* |
6 months |
* NOTES: Price varies slightly
depending on latitude and excludes any custom modifications which may be
necessary for custom installation of the heliostat upon your present building
structure. It is also assumed that the basic 12" diameter vertical tube
(providing for the optical path from the heliostat into the building),
provision of the heliostat and enclosure mounting bolt studs upon the roof, and
provision of the ceiling mounting bolt studs for the refractor/H-alpha
equipment cage will be completed to ObservatoryScope specifications by an
independent licensed contractor under a separate contract. |
- Tracking Platform: Meade 16" LX-200 fork mount
retrofitted with stepper motors and reduction gears.
- Hour Angle Limits: ±8.99 hour angle from
prime meridian.
- Declination Limits: +70° to -30° of
celestial equator (slight to moderate vignetting occurs below -13°
declination when telescope is used at full aperture for nighttime celestial
observations).
- Optical System: Conventional heliostat optical
path utilizing an optical flat for target acquisition and tracking, a relay
optical flat to redirect the light beam vertically downward to a telescope, and
an observer's station located at the telescope's focal plane within the
building's control room.
- Optical Flat Specifications: 16" diameter, 1/8
wave RMS or better.
- Telescope Specifications: Meade 10"
Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA with a 90mm sub-aperture used for solar observations and
full aperture used for celestial observations at night.
- H-alpha Viewing Equipment: Optional Coronado
Technology Group SolarMax 90 Package.
- Drive System Electronics: ComSoft PC-TCS stepper
motor control system located within the control room.
- Standard Accessories: H-alpha viewing equipment
(optional); 45° diagonal; low, medium and high power eyepieces.
- Instrument Enclosure: Flip-off canopy design
featuring welded steel frame and sheet metal skin construction.
- Price, excluding applicable taxes, shipping and
installation costs; Manufacturing Time:
| 10" Aperture Siderostat |
Please
inquire |
6 to 8 months |
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Product Summary
Imagine the convenience and instructional
possibilities which an ObservatoryScope heliostat or siderostat provides by
having the general public and students located within a comfortable control and
observation room. Representative images, charts and graphs related to the
current visible target may be shown on nearby monitors. Don't forget that the
heliostat's or siderostat's observing station and control room can be located
on the ground floor of the building and that the observing station will be
conveniently located at desktop height. These are important considerations for
handicapped individuals who would dearly love to conveniently view and learn
about the celestial splendors which our heavens have to offer.
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