A Versatile Optical Bench for Undergraduate Astronomical Observations

用于本科生天文观测的多功能光学平台

• 批准号: 8852526
• 负责人: Richard Kron
• 金额: $ 4.16万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1989
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1989-02-01 至 1991-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8852526&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Versatile; Optical; Bench; Undergraduate; Astronomical

An already-successful laboratory program is astronomical observation is to be expanded so that students will plan their own observing project. They will construct an instrument by arranging components on an optical bench. This instrument will be tested in the lab and then taken to the telescope. Possible configurations include a direct imaging camera; interferometer; polarimeter; speckle camera; coronagraph; and spectrograph. The detector will be an intensified CCD (charge-coupled device) camera that can be operated either at video rate or with accumulation. The former mode allows fast events like occultations to be observed; the accumulation mode allows observation of faint objects. An integration can be stored as a disk file for subsequent analysis. Data can also be stored on video tape, and displayed for larger groups with a wide-screen television. This capability will provide a concrete model of the scientific techniques, and will moreover provide excellent opportunities for undergraduate research. This program is enabled by a new computer-controlled telescope at The University of Chicago that provides for a horizontal beam and a fixed focus, thus allowing instrumentation to be easily configured at the telescope. Matching funds are requested from NSF for the optical bench set-ups, the intensified CCD camera (including an acquisition/guide camera), and the video equipment, namely a high-quality recorder and a wide-screen projector. An upgrade for the current computer is required, especially including greatly expanded disk space.

一个已经成功的实验室计划是天文数字 观察是要扩大，使学生将计划他们的 自己的观察项目。 他们将建造一个仪器， 在光具座上布置组件。 该工具将 在实验室里进行测试，然后带到望远镜上。 可能 配置包括直接成像相机;干涉仪; 旋光仪、散斑照相机、日冕仪和摄谱仪。 的 探测器将是一个增强型CCD（电荷耦合器件） 可以以视频速率或 积累 前一种模式允许快速事件，如 要观察的掩星;累积模式允许 观察微弱的物体。 积分可以存储为 磁盘文件进行后续分析。 数据也可以存储在 录像带，并显示为较大的群体与宽屏幕 电视 这种能力将提供一个具体的模型 科学技术，并将提供优秀的 本科生研究的机会。 该计划是由一个新的计算机控制的望远镜， 芝加哥大学提供了一个水平梁， 一个固定的焦点，从而使仪器很容易 配置在望远镜上。 要求提供的配套资金来自 NSF用于光具座设置，增强型CCD相机 （包括采集/引导摄像机），以及视频设备， 即高质量的录音机和宽屏幕投影仪。 一个 需要对当前计算机进行升级，特别是 包括大大扩展的磁盘空间。