Preliminary results from the automated patrol telescope CCD camera.
Abstract
The University of NSW Automated Patrol Telescope (APT), a modified 0.5 m Baker-Nunn Schmidt telescope situated at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, Australia, was opened in June 1989. It features the unique combination of an extremely fast optical system with a CCD camera at the prime focus, capable of both fast imaging and slow-scan integrated readout via a low-noise correlated double sampling amplifier. This combination of optics and detector gives a wide field suited to observing extended objects including the LMC, the SMC, and galaxies in the Sculptor group. First images from the APT are presented along with the results of noise, linearity, and dark-current measurements made to date with a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
- Pub Date:
- 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S132335800002378X
- Bibcode:
- 1990PASA....8..377B
- Keywords:
-
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Telescopes;
- Astronomical Observatories;
- Automation;
- Magellanic Clouds;
- Star Distribution;
- Astronomy