RUI: Acquisition of CCD Camera and Instrument Selector

通过研究其他恒星的性质，可以从根本上了解太阳和其他恒星的功能和演化过程。对食双星系统的研究提供了关于其他恒星质量的唯一数据，以及关于它们的半径的大部分数据。日食期间观测到的光的变化产生了这些重要的基本参数。此外，预测的日食和观测到的日食的时间差异可以用来确定恒星的内部构成以及广义相对论的有趣效应。另一方面，米拉变星是单星，由于半径和温度的波动，其亮度和颜色都会发生本质上的变化。这种脉动的确切机制仍不完全清楚。这个项目是对现有望远镜进行升级，安装一个新的探测器--CCD相机。该相机将与特殊滤光片一起使用，使观测者能够获得变星在其轨道或相位变化中的亮度测量结果。对于米拉变星的观测，该相机将在望远镜上提供几乎同步的光谱数据采集的光度成像。对于日食双星工作，新的相机将允许获得比以前获得的质量更好的数据。也可以在夜间获取数据，在那里，薄薄的云层或大气透明度的其他变化阻碍了旧的光电技术的使用。这台ccd相机将捕捉正在研究的恒星区域的电子图像。这些图像被保存在计算机磁盘文件中，然后用特殊的图像处理软件进行研究。变星的亮度是通过将数据与同一图像中亮度恒定的其他恒星的数据进行比较来确定的。通过不同的滤色器进行的测量将提供关于颜色的信息，从而提供恒星的温度。望远镜的升级还包括安装一个自动仪器选择器，以便将望远镜光束快速重定向到光谱仪、新的ccd相机或目镜。这将允许在光谱和成像模式之间快速切换，并将通过最大限度地减少设备拆卸和安装来帮助保持仪器的质量。它还将便于从气候控制室远程操作望远镜，为观察者提供一个更安全、更舒适的环境。该项目将让本科生参与工作的所有阶段(数据获取、简化、分析和发布)。新设备将让更多的学生参与到激动人心的基础科学研究中来。***

AST-9731062 Caton The study of the properties of other stars provides a fundamental understanding of how our sun and other stars function and evolve. Research on eclipsing binary star systems provides the only data on the mass of other stars, and the majority of data on their radii. The variations in the observed light during eclipses yields these important basic parameters. In addition, differences between the times of the predicted and observed eclipses can be used to determine the internal constitution of stars as well as interesting effects of general relativity. Mira variable stars, on the other hand, are single stars that intrinsically vary in brightness and color due to pulsation in radius and temperature. The exact mechanisms for this pulsation are still not completely understood. This project is to upgrade an existing telescope by installing a new detector--a CCD camera. The camera will be used with special filters that will allow observers to obtain brightness measurements of variable stars throughout their orbit or phase variations. For observations of the Mira variable stars, the camera will provide photometric imaging with nearly simultaneous spectrographic data acquisition on the telescope. For the eclipsing binary work, the new camera will allow data to be obtained that is of better quality than previously obtained. Data may also be acquired on nights where thin clouds or other variations in atmospheric transparency prevent use of older, photoelectric techniques. The CCD camera will capture electronic images of the field of stars being studied. These images are saved on computer disk files and later studied with special image processing software. The brightness of the variable star is determined by comparing the data to data from other stars of constant brightness in the same image. The measurements made through different color filters will provide information on the color, and thus the temperature of the stars. The upgrade to the telescope will also i nclude the installation of an automated instrument selector to allow rapid redirection of the telescope beam to either the spectrograph, the new CCD camera, or a visual eyepiece. This will allow rapid changeovers between spectroscopy and imaging modes, and will help preserve the quality of the instruments by minimizing equipment removal and installations. It will also facilitate the remote operation of the telescope from a climate-controlled room, providing a safer and more comfortable environment for the observers. The project will involve undergraduate students in all phases of the work (data acquisition, reduction, analysis, and publications). The new equipment will allow more students to participate in exciting and fundamental scientific research. ***