The microprocessor control of the Kavalur 234-cm optical telescope
Abstract
This paper gives an introduction to the control system of the 234-cm optical telescope. The computer used in control is based on an INTEL 16 bit microprocessor. The VAX 11/780 system has a supervisory role in the control system and is used primarily to calculate the pointing errors due to mechanical imperfections of the telescope, atmospheric refraction, and other similar errors. The microcomputer and the VAX system are coupled with bidirectional drivers and exchange data at predetermined sidereal intervals. The various tasks involved in the control of the telescope are explained. The interface circuits developed at the electronics laboratory are briefly mentioned. Circuits necessary for the display to telescope position, celestial coordinates, and sidereal time are included.
- Publication:
-
Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India
- Pub Date:
- June 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985BASI...13..153C
- Keywords:
-
- Control Systems Design;
- Microprocessors;
- Telescopes;
- Automatic Control;
- Sidereal Time;
- Vax-11/780 Computer;
- Astronomy