SBG camera of Kourovka Astronomical observatory

Abstract

The set-up and principle of operation of the systems of the SBG telescope, which was upgraded in 2005-2006 at the Kourovka Astronomical observatory, are described in detail. The reduction of the field of view (photographic plates replaced by a CCD) is compensated by an increased operation speed, achieved by automating both the telescope drives and image processing procedure.

Principal algorithms for the control of Kourovka Observatory SBG camera

“…We now substitute the appropriate coordinates of the orbital pole into x and x (see (2), (3)) to solve equation (6) and determine…”

“…The table for the SBG camera initially uses the equatorial ephemerides of the satellites with a time step of 1 s and 10 min. In observations performed with the equatorial mounting configuration, the drive speeds are computed by interpolating the angles t, δ in this table (relatively slow objects are tracked in the equatorial system using the "Karta" (map) subroutine [2]). If, however, during the observations the third axis of the camera is pointed towards the pole of the satellite's orbit, the initial equatorial ephemeris transforms into a table with the same time step of 1 s for the intrinsic (rotated) coordinate system 4 , then the drive speeds are computed by interpolating t , δ of the latter table.…”