RUI: Acquisition of Telescope Positioning and Guidance System

该合同将允许首席研究员升级西南密苏里州立大学（SMSU）贝克天文台0.4米卡塞格兰反射望远镜的定位和制导系统。这台望远镜是基特峰国家天文台（KPNO）和塞罗·托洛洛美洲天文台（CTIO）使用的首批仪器之一。它是SMSU于1983年以长期可再生贷款的形式从CTIO获得的。该望远镜于1984年安装在贝克天文台，虽然光学系统仍然相当令人满意，但定位和制导系统需要现代化。该合同为购买计算机控制闭环步进电机定位系统和远程制导系统提供资金。这将使望远镜能够快速准确地定位和精确引导。这将允许有效地利用现有的仪器，其中包括一个自动滤光光度计和一个CCD成像系统。这些仪器将用于对变星、标准恒星和明亮星系进行高精度光电和CCD相机光度测量的科学项目。

This award will allow the Principal Investigator to upgrade the positioning and guidance system of the Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) Baker Observatory 0.4-m Cassegrain reflecting telescope. This telescope was one of the first instruments used at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO). It was obtained from CTIO by SMSU in 1983 on a long-term, renewable loan basis. The telescope was installed at Baker Observatory in 1984, and although the optical system is still quite satisfactory, the positioning and guidance system is in need of modernization. This award provides funds to purchase a computer-controlled closed-loop stepping motor positioning system and a remote guiding system. These will allow rapid and accurate positioning and precise guiding of the telescope. This will permit efficient use with existing instrumentation, which consists of an automated-filter photometer and a CCD imaging system. The scientific programs to be carried out with these instruments include high precision photoelectric and CCD camera photometry of variable stars, standard stars, and bright galaxies.