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Three Axis Telescope Control
Simulation Software
In order to better understand the motion of the three-axis
mount, I
wrote a graphical simulation of its motion. A screenshot of the
simulator is shown below.
The simulator is available in several formats:
The software allows you to manipulate the telescope using
several
different coordinates. Direct control of the telescope axes is
done through the a1, a2, and a3 sliders. As these sliders are
moved, the altitude, azimuth, hour angle, declination, and field
rotation sliders will be updated appropriately. If the field
rotation slider is adjusted, the telescope will remain pointed at the
same location in the sky, but will rotate about its optical axis.
If the altitude, azimuth, hour angle, or declination sliders are
adjusted, the telescope will move to point at the new position while
keeping the field rotation constant.
Some interesting experiments to try with the simulator are:
- Point the telescope at any location and adjust the field
rotation. This demonstrates how the mount is capable of providing
arbitrary field rotation at any point in the sky.
- Point the telescope at the pole (azimuth = 0, altitude =
latitude) and slowly increase the hour angle. This simulates the
telescope tracking at the pole over time.
- Point the telescope 10 degrees below the pole (azimuth = 0,
altitude = latitude - 10) and slowly increase the hour angle.
This simulates the telescope tracking around the pole over time.
- Point the telescope at the meridian (a1 = 90, a2 =
latitude, a3 = 270) and adjust the hour angle. Note that the
mount only needs to move the a1 axis to keep the field rotation
constant while in this position.
If anyone has any other interesting test cases, please email
me about them.
Copyright © 2004, Steve
Joiner. All rights reserved.
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