JP2002341749A - Astronomical observation dome - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an astronomical observation dome having a function which supports astronomical observation of an observer who is unaccustomed to astronomical observation. SOLUTION: In the astronomical observation dome which allows an observer to observe the sky by an astronomical telescope T through a slit S provided in a dome D freely rotatably installed on a base, the image of heavenly bodies and/or constellations is displayed on the dome inside surface except the slit part, and this image is so displayed that it may always represent the actual starry sky observed from the dome installation point independently of the rotation angle of the dome.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an astronomical observation dome equipped with an astronomical telescope, and more particularly to an astronomical observation dome having a function of assisting an astronomical observer who is unfamiliar with astronomical observation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An astronomical observation dome is known as a structure for enabling astronomical observation with an astronomical telescope from indoors. This type of astronomical observation dome is installed on a base of a building or the like. As shown in FIG. 5, a hemispherical dome D is formed on a base centered on a line connecting the top of the dome and the center of the dome bottom. It is installed rotatable with respect to
It has a structure in which a band-shaped slit S is opened in the vertical direction including at least the top of the dome. Then, the astronomical telescope T is installed in the dome, and the observer captures and observes the target astronomical object from the dome using the slit.

[0003]

The above-mentioned astronomical observation dome is very useful in that it protects the astronomical telescope and the observer from dew and wind, and also enables astronomical observation. On the other hand, the observer is isolated from the outside world by the dome,
Since only a few slits were open to the outside world, the starry sky could only be seen within a narrow area of the slit. Therefore, it was not possible to see what objects and constellations are present in the whole sky, which was extremely inconvenient for those who were not familiar with astronomical observation.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and uses a astronomical telescope through a slit provided in a dome provided rotatably with respect to a base. In the astronomical observation dome for observing the dome, the image of the celestial body or constellation picture or the celestial body and constellation picture is displayed on the inner surface of the dome except for the slit part, and this image is always the same as that of the actual object observed from the dome installation point regardless of the rotation angle of the dome It is characterized by being displayed so as to reproduce the starry sky.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG.
Denotes a dome, S denotes a slit, and T denotes an astronomical telescope installed in the dome. In this embodiment, an equatorial mount is used as the mount M of the astronomical telescope T. In the present invention, as a means for displaying an image of a celestial body, a constellation picture or a celestial body and a constellation picture (hereinafter, referred to as an “image”) on the inner surface of the dome, a method of projecting an image by a projector and an image along the dome surface There is a method of providing a display device. In this embodiment, the former method is used as an example. Incidentally, as the latter means, it is possible to provide an image display device comprising a group of a large number of luminous bodies constituting pixels along the dome surface and display the image generated by the computer to obtain the same operation and effect. it can. In this case, the image displayed on the image display device is moved in synchronization with the actual diurnal movement of the starry sky observed from the dome installation point.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the projector P in this embodiment. Here, a slide projector like a planetarium using an original plate is adopted as the projector P. That is, the projector P has a configuration in which condenser lenses 13 and 13, original plates 14 and 14 of images, and fish-eye lenses 15 and 15 are respectively provided before and after the light source 12 disposed at the center, and facing 180 degrees opposite to each other. And a north sky side projection unit P1 and a south sky side projection unit P2. Fisheye lens 15 ・ 15
Has an angle of view of 180 degrees or more, and as shown in FIG. 1, at the point D1 of the dome D, the images in the projection range covered by the north-side projection unit P1 and the south-side projection unit P2 are joined and projected. The whole sky image is projected on the inside of the dome. It is needless to say that an all-sky projection type video projector may be employed as the projector and an image generated by a computer may be projected. In this case, the computer performs an operation for moving the image in synchronization with the diurnal motion, and projects the diagonal motion of the starry sky based on this data to reproduce the diurnal motion of the starry sky.

In the present invention, the image of the celestial body and the like displayed on the inner surface of the dome must always be displayed so as to reproduce the actual starry sky observed from the dome installation point. Therefore, in the case of the projector as in this embodiment, the starry sky (fixed star)
Diurnal motion synchronized with the diurnal motion of the projector must be given to the projector. Therefore, in this embodiment, the gantry (equatorial mount) M of the astronomical telescope T is used, and the north sky side projection unit P1 and the south sky side projection unit P2 are located at both terminals of the polar axis. That is, the lens barrel X of the projector P is rotatably inserted into the polar axis inner cylinder 2 supported swingably on the pedestal 1, and the worm wheel 11 fixed to the outer periphery of the lens barrel X of the projector is rotated. The worm gear 10 is rotated by a worm gear 10 provided on the polar shaft inner cylinder 2 meshing with the gear. The worm gear 10 is rotated by a power mechanism (not shown) controlled by a control mechanism, and the projector P makes one rotation at 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 04 seconds (at the time of a star).
Synchronize with the movement of the starry sky. In addition, without setting the projector in the equatorial mount,
Needless to say, it may be installed independently in a range not far from there.

On the other hand, the structure for supporting the astronomical telescope T is as follows. First, a polar axis outer cylinder 3 is rotatably inserted outside the polar axis inner cylinder 2, and a declination outer cylinder 6 projects from the polar axis outer cylinder 3 at right angles to the polar axis outer cylinder 3. A declination inner cylinder 7 projecting from a lens barrel X of an astronomical telescope is rotatably inserted into the outer cylinder 6. A worm wheel 5 is fixed to the outside of the pole shaft inner cylinder 2. By rotating the worm gear 4 of the pole shaft outer cylinder 3 meshing with the worm wheel 5, the pole shaft outer cylinder turns around the pole axis. A worm wheel 9 is provided outside the declination outer cylinder 6.
Is fixed, and by rotating the worm gear 8 of the astronomical telescope T meshing therewith, the declination inner cylinder 7 rotates about the declination axis.

In the above embodiment, the astronomical telescope T is pointed in an arbitrary direction by the mount M by the same operation as a normal equatorial mount. On the other hand, regardless of the movement of the astronomical telescope T, the projector P rotatably provided with respect to the gantry M performs a diurnal movement in synchronization with the diurnal movement of the actual starry sky observed from the dome installation point. In this case, the dome D rotates so that the slit S is located in the direction in which the astronomical telescope T is directed. However, since the projector P is located on the fixed floor, the image of the astronomical object or the like does not move. 3 and 4 illustrate the above relationship. For example, the constellations A1, A2,
Assuming that A3 is observed, if the astronomical telescope T is directed to a star in the constellation A2, the range C1 of the starry sky where the constellation A2 exists is the range observed through the slit S of the dome D. The constellation pictures AA1 and AA3 corresponding to the actual constellations are projected on the inner surface of the dome (FIG. 3). Next, when the astronomical telescope T is moved to point a star in the constellation A3, the dome D is rotated accordingly and the range observed through the slit S of the dome D is the range C1 of the starry sky where the constellation A3 exists. Go to In this case, constellation pictures AA1 and AA2 corresponding to real constellations are projected on the other inner surfaces of the dome, but their relative positions to the real starry sky do not move (FIG. 4).

In the above-described embodiment, the image projected by the projector P is partly blocked by the astronomical telescope T to form a shadow, but has a small area compared to the whole sky area. There is no practical problem. The initial setting of the projector can be performed in the same manner as the setting of the polar axis of the astronomical telescope.
An image of a celestial body or the like is projected at an accurate position on the inner surface of the dome using the longitude and latitude at the intersection of the polar axis and the declination axis of the astronomical telescope.

[0011]

According to the present invention having the above configuration,
While in the dome, observers can know what celestial bodies and constellations are currently in the night sky, and this will allow them to deepen their understanding of astronomical observations. Also, in the case where many observers look into the astronomical telescope in turn, the waiting time can be used to deepen the knowledge of the astronomical objects and constellations, and the time can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of an astronomical observation dome according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of an astronomical telescope and a projector of the astronomical observation dome of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the operation of the astronomical observation dome of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the operation of the astronomical observation dome of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional astronomical observation dome.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D Dome S Slit P Projector T Astronomical telescope

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An astronomical observation dome for observing the sky with an astronomical telescope from a slit provided in a dome rotatably mounted on a base, wherein a celestial body or a constellation picture or a celestial body and a constellation are provided on the inner surface of the dome excluding the slit portion. An astronomical observation dome that displays an image of a picture, and this image is displayed so as to always reproduce the actual starry sky observed from the dome installation point regardless of the rotation angle of the dome. 2. The astronomical observation dome according to claim 1, wherein the celestial body, the constellation picture, or the image of the celestial body and the constellation picture is projected on the inner surface of the dome by a projector. 3. The astronomical observation dome according to claim 2, wherein the projector makes a diurnal movement in synchronization with a diurnal movement of the actual starry sky observed from the dome installation point. 4. The astronomical observation dome according to claim 3, wherein a projector for projecting northern sky and southern sky is provided at both polar axis terminals of the equatorial mount of the astronomical telescope. 5. The astronomical observation dome according to claim 1, wherein the celestial body, the constellation picture, or the image of the celestial body and the constellation picture is displayed on an image display device provided along the dome surface inside the dome. 6. The astronomical observation dome according to claim 5, wherein the image displayed on the image display device is moved in synchronization with the diurnal movement of the actual starry sky observed from the dome installation point.