RUI: Acquisition of CCD Camera and Instrument Selector

AST-9731062卡顿 对其他恒星性质的研究为我们对太阳和其他恒星的功能和演化提供了基本的理解。 对食双星星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，预测和观测到的日食时间之间的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，Mira变星是一颗恒星，由于半径和温度的脉动，亮度和颜色会发生变化。 这种脉动的确切机制仍不完全清楚。 这个项目是通过安装一个新的探测器-CCD照相机来升级现有的望远镜。 照相机将与特殊的滤光片一起使用，使观测者能够获得变星在整个轨道或相位变化期间的亮度测量。 对于Mira变星的观测，相机将提供测光成像，同时在望远镜上几乎同时采集光谱数据。 对于食双星的工作，新的相机将允许获得比以前获得的质量更好的数据。 也可以在薄云或大气透明度的其他变化阻止使用较旧的光电技术的夜晚获取数据。 CCD照相机将捕获正在研究的恒星场的电子图像。 这些图像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。 变星星星的亮度是通过将这些数据与同一图像中其他亮度恒定的恒星的数据进行比较来确定的。 通过不同的彩色滤光片进行的测量将提供有关颜色的信息，从而提供恒星的温度。 望远镜的升级还将包括安装一个自动仪器选择器，以允许望远镜光束快速重定向到摄谱仪，新的CCD相机或目视目镜。 这将允许光谱和成像模式之间的快速转换，并将通过最大限度地减少设备的拆卸和安装来帮助保持仪器的质量。 它还将便利从气候控制室远程操作望远镜，为观察员提供更安全和更舒适的环境。 该项目将涉及本科生在工作的所有阶段（数据采集，减少，分析和出版物）。 新设备将使更多的学生能够参与令人兴奋的基础科学研究。 ***

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. ***