Telescope Engineering

Robotic telescopes operate automatically on mountain tops around the world without the need for people to be present. This requires a high degree of engineering sophistication.

All functions can be monitored at the control centre and if necessary the telescope can also be operated remotely from there using the Internet as the communication tool.

Telescope engineering includes:

• The Robotic Control System co-ordinating all the automatic operations of the telescope.
• The Telescope Control System to position the telescope so that it points at the correct part of the night sky. As the Earth rotates on its axis the telescope must be kept pointing at the same part of the sky, this allows for long exposures to be taken with the camera (deep space observations).
• The Mount Control System for controlling the motors that drive the telescope;
• The Instrument Support System that controls the operation of all the instruments which detect the faint light gathered by the telescope.
• The Observer Support System linking the telescope to the control centre and users of the instrument such as astronomers and schools.
• An automated system for controlling the opening and closing of the telescope enclosure (dome) and all safety systems.

All these instruments combine to create a robotic telescope that does it's own thinking and can control itself. There need be no human input on a normal night's observing.