A Versatile Optical Bench for Undergraduate Astronomical Observations

一个已经成功的实验项目是天文观测将被扩大，这样学生就可以计划他们自己的观测项目。他们将通过在光学工作台上布置部件来建造一台仪器。这台仪器将在实验室进行测试，然后带到望远镜上。可能的配置包括直接成像相机、干涉仪、偏振器、散斑相机、日冕仪和光谱仪。探测器将是一个增强型CCD(电荷耦合设备)摄像机，可以以视频速率或累加方式操作。前一种模式允许观察像掩星这样的快速事件；累积模式允许观察微弱的物体。可以将集成存储为磁盘文件以供后续分析。数据还可以存储在录像带上，并通过宽屏电视为更大的群体显示。这种能力将为科学技术提供一个具体的模型，而且将为本科生的研究提供极好的机会。这一计划是由芝加哥大学的一台新的计算机控制的望远镜实现的，该望远镜提供水平光束和固定焦点，因此可以很容易地在望远镜上配置仪器。请国家科学基金会提供配套资金，用于安装光学工作台、增强型CCD摄像机(包括采集/引导摄像机)和视频设备，即高质量录像机和宽屏投影机。需要对当前的计算机进行升级，特别是包括极大地扩展磁盘空间。

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.