JPH04106513A - Controller for astronomical telescope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and rapidly bring a desired celestial body in an astronomical telescope by inputting the desired observed celestial body which is to be observed, obtaining the present coordinate of the designated observed celestial body and turning the astronomical telescope to the present coordinate which is obtained. CONSTITUTION:This controller 1 for the astronomical telescope is provided with the astronomical telescope 3, a driving device 5, a control computer 7 and a display 9. A clock device 11 and a handset 13 are connected to the device 5. Then, the controller 1 designates the desired celestial body by a star chart and a celestial menu displayed on the display 9 or it designates the coordinate value of desired right ascension and declination, so that the telescope 3 is brought to be in the state of the desired celestial body and the coordinate of the desired right ascension and declination. After fixing the value of the right ascension and declination, the telescope 3 is turned in a designated direction and the celestial body of visual field is displayed so as to perform automatic tracking. Since the celestial body which is to be brought in is displayed on the display 9, the star chart on the display 9 is shown to an observer to allow him to study even when the stars are not brought in the telescope 3 because of the changeableness of weather.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a control device for directing an astronomical telescope to a desired celestial object to be observed.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a control device for an astronomical telescope includes a drive motor that changes the position of the astronomical telescope in the right ascension and declination directions, and a coordinate system that detects and displays the coordinate values of the astronomical telescope in the right ascension and declination directions. A display and
It is equipped with a manual remote control to operate the drive motor.

These are operated by the operator of the Dai Astronomical Telescope as shown below.

First, check the current coordinates of the star as an observed celestial object from the star chart. Next, the star to be observed is introduced into the astronomical telescope by operating the manual remote control so that these coordinate values match the values displayed on the coordinate display.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in conventional astronomical telescope control devices, the process of calculating the current coordinates of the star to be observed is complicated, and it is difficult to match the calculated coordinates with the orientation of the astronomical telescope. Therefore, when operating agricultural astronomical telescopes, a skilled astronomical engineer was indispensable.The present invention solves the above problems by simply pointing out the desired observation object. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a control device for an astronomical telescope that directs the astronomical telescope to a desired astronomical object.

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a means for achieving the above object, a control device for an astronomical telescope of the present invention (as illustrated in FIG. 1) is provided. The apparatus includes an observed celestial object input means for inputting a desired observed celestial object, an observed celestial body coordinate calculation means for calculating the current coordinates of the specified observed celestial object, and an astronomical telescope based on the calculated values of the observed celestial body coordinate calculation means. The gist of the present invention is to include a direction changing means for changing the direction of the object.

[Operation] In the astronomical telescope control device of the present invention, when a desired observed celestial object is input by the observed celestial object input means, the observed celestial coordinate calculation means calculates the current coordinates of the specified observed celestial object, and the astronomical telescope is controlled by the direction change means. Direct it to the current coordinates you found.

Therefore, just by inputting the desired observation object to be observed in the astronomical telescope, the desired observation object will be introduced.

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the astronomical telescope control device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the astronomical telescope control device 1 of this embodiment, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the astronomical telescope control process, and FIGS. 4 to 13 are explanatory diagrams of the operation.

The astronomical telescope control device 1 includes an astronomical telescope 3, a drive device 5, a control computer 7, and a display 9, as shown in FIG.

The astronomical telescope 3 (top) is equipped with a step motor for changing right ascension and declination directions (not shown) and an encoder for detecting right ascension and declination coordinates (not shown).

A clock device 1] and a handset 13 are connected to the drive device 5. A clock device 11 (which supplies a reference clock signal to the drive device 5).

The handset 13 (includes a push button for operating the remote control of the drive device 5).

The drive device 5 includes a right ascension coordinate display section 5A and a declination coordinate display section 5B. These right ascension and declination coordinate display parts 5A,
5811 The right ascension and declination coordinates of the astronomical telescope 3 are displayed based on the detected values of the right ascension and declination coordinate detection encoder (not shown). Drive device 51 includes step motor drive circuits 5C and 5D and a control circuit 5E. Step motor drive circuits 5C and 5DIL are connected to and drive step motors for changing right ascension and declination directions (not shown). The control circuit 5E includes an encoder for detecting right ascension and declination coordinates (not shown), a control computer 7, a clock device 1, a handset 3, and a step motor drive circuit 5.
C and 5D. The control circuit 5E includes a right ascension and declination coordinate encoder (not shown), a control computer 7, a clock device 11. Based on the control signal from the handset 13, a drive signal is output to the step motor drive circuits 5C and 5D. The driving device 51 has a function of controlling the direction of the astronomical telescope 3 even when the control computer 7 is not operating.
It has the performance shown in the table.

Table 1 Control computer 7 (a well-known personal computer, connected to a display 9, a keyboard 7A, and a mouse 7C).

Next 1: The astronomical telescope control process executed by the control computer 7 will be explained based on FIGS. 3 and 4 to 13.

In addition, in this astronomical telescope control process, the celestial bodies shown in Table 2 below are introduced.

When execution of the astronomical telescope control process is selected in the second table control computer 7, the astronomical telescope control process routine shown in FIG. 3 is activated. In the astronomical telescope control processing routine (
First, perform startup processing, then display the startup menu (steps below step 100° are simply written as S).
. In the startup process (as shown in FIG. 4), a title screen is displayed on the display 9. When the startup menu is displayed, the startup menu as shown in FIG.
゜Introduction to celestial bodies 2. Astronomical data registration/maintenance 3. Data conversion 4° setting 5. "System Management" is displayed on the display 9.

After displaying the startup menu, it is then determined whether "1. Introducing celestial bodies" has been selected (S110). If a selection other than "], Celestial object introduction" is selected using the keyboard 7A, the process shifts to another processing routine (not shown) that executes the selected process (S120). When "Introducing celestial bodies" is selected using the keyboard 7A (the celestial body introduction menu is then displayed (S130)), the celestial body introduction menu as shown in Figure 6 of Section 6 is selected. [1. Introducing star map instruction method 2. Introducing one-way menu method 3. Introducing right ascension/declination input method 9° Return to menu" is displayed on the display 9.

Note that if "9. Return to menu" is selected, the process shifts to displaying the startup menu 5100.

After displaying the celestial body introduction menu, the selection state of the celestial body introduction menu is determined (S140). Here, if it is determined that the "star map instruction method" has been selected, then the all-sky star map is displayed (S150).
A star map as shown in FIG. 7, that is, an all-sky star map in the current visual field is displayed on the display 9.

Next, viewing angle changing processing is executed (S160). In the viewing angle change process (as shown in FIG.
Operate using A or mouse 7C, [fl: Enlarge J
rf2: Reduction" and specifying a desired position on the star map according to a predetermined procedure. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8 or 9, for example, a star map is displayed on the display 9 at the specified viewing angle and at the specified coordinates.

After changing the viewing angle, coordinates on the next displayed star map are input (S170). Inputting coordinates on the star map (1. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the operator uses the cursor 20 to indicate the desired position on the display 9 according to a predetermined procedure, and inputs this position as the coordinate value. After inputting the coordinates on the star map, it is then determined whether the coordinates are confirmed (S180).The coordinates are confirmed when the operator presses the confirm key 7B on the keyboard 7A. It will be done.

After determining the coordinates, the amount of movement of the astronomical telescope 3 is calculated from the instructed right ascension and declination coordinates, the current time, and the current position of the astronomical telescope 3, and the number of rotation steps and rotation direction of the motor are calculated. (S 190). That is, first 5170.1
The standard right ascension and declination coordinates read from the table are corrected by the current time to calculate the right ascension and declination coordinates at the current time. Based on the right ascension and declination coordinates and the designated right ascension and declination coordinates at the current time, the right ascension and red ascension (not shown) are required to move the astronomical telescope 3 to the designated right ascension and declination coordinates. The rotation direction and number of rotation steps of the step motor for changing the latitude direction are calculated.

After calculating the rotation direction and the number of rotation steps, the motor of the astronomical telescope is driven to the specified right ascension and declination coordinates while monitoring the direction of the astronomical telescope 3 using the encoder (S 2
00). That is, the astronomical telescope 3 is actually moved and directed to the designated right ascension and declination coordinates.

Next, a star map of objects in the field of view centered on the designated right ascension and declination coordinates is displayed on the display 9 (5205), and a key input is awaited. After that, the introduced celestial objects will be automatically tracked.

By the processing of 5100-3205, the astronomical telescope 3 automatically tracks the right ascension and declination coordinates indicated on the star map on the display 9 after the two astronomical telescopes are introduced.

In this automatic tracking state, when a predetermined key is pressed, the process starts in 5 steps.
The process moves to step 130, and the installation procedure is started again. Furthermore, by moving the cursor 20 using the mouse 7C and selecting the star map of the field of view celestial object displayed on the display 9, the astronomical telescope 3 is introduced to a new celestial object.

Meanwhile, the astronomical telescope control process is activated. 5100-140
Accordingly, when "2. One-way menu introduction" is selected, a selection menu is first displayed (S210).

When the selection menu is displayed, the menu as shown in Figure 10 is displayed: 1. Constellation name search 2. Nebula star cluster search 3.
"Solar system search 9, return to menu" is displayed on the display 9.

After displaying the selection menu shown in FIG. 10, a list of celestial bodies selected from this selection menu is displayed according to a predetermined procedure (S220). For example, if [1rl, constellation name search] is selected, a list of celestial bodies as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display 9.

After displaying the selection menu shown in Figure 10, a list of celestial bodies selected from this selection menu is displayed according to a predetermined procedure (S220'').For example, if [1rl, constellation name search] is selected. In this case, a list of celestial bodies as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display 9.

Next, the name of the celestial body is input (S230). The name of the celestial body is input by inputting the name of the celestial body displayed on the display 9 as instructed by the operator according to a predetermined procedure.

After entering the name of the celestial body, the first name representing the input celestial body is displayed.
Display the celestial map as shown in Figure 2, make a confirmation display 30 such as "Are you sure? Y/N", and have the user press the "Y key" or "N key" on the keyboard 7A. (S240)
, input the name of the celestial body (S 2) until the name of the celestial body is confirmed.
30), and the confirmation determination (S240) is repeated.

After determining the name of the celestial body, the coordinates are calculated next (S 2
50). The coordinates are calculated by reading the right ascension and declination values corresponding to the name of the celestial body from a table (not shown).

After calculating the coordinates, the astronomical telescope 3 is directed in the designated direction using steps 8190 to 5205 described above, and the astronomical object in the field of view in this direction is displayed and automatically tracked.

fs100~140, 5210~250°S]90~
Through the process 205, the astronomical telescope 3 is introduced to the celestial body selected from the menu on the display 9.

On the other hand, in the selection of the celestial body introduction menu (S140), if "3. Introduction of right ascension/declination input method" is selected, the right ascension/declination input screen is first displayed (S260).
). On the display of the right ascension and declination input screen, a screen like the one shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display 9.

Then, based on the prescribed procedure, the right ascension. A declination value is input (S270). After inputting the right ascension and declination values, a screen like the one shown in Figure 12 showing the celestial map of the area indicated by the input right ascension and declination values is displayed on the display 9, asking for confirmation, and confirming the response status. It was determined whether the right ascension and declination values were determined (8280). While the right ascension and declination values are not determined, the input of the right ascension and declination values (S270) and the determination of determination (5280) are repeated.

After determining the right ascension and declination values, direct the astronomical telescope 3 to the indicated direction using steps 3190 to 205 described above, and
Displays celestial objects in the field of view and automatically tracks them.

I-hi A 5100~140, 5260~280゜5
Through the processes 190 to 205, the astronomical telescope 3 is introduced to the right ascension and declination coordinates input on the display 9.

The control device for the astronomical telescope described above is used to specify a desired celestial body using the star map or astronomical menu displayed on the display 9, or to select a desired right ascension.

By simply specifying the declination coordinate value, the astronomical telescope 3 is introduced to the desired celestial body and the desired right ascension and declination coordinates.

As a result, it is possible to provide a control device for an astronomical telescope that can easily and quickly introduce a desired celestial object into the astronomical telescope 3, which is an extremely excellent effect.

In addition, since the celestial object to be introduced is displayed on the display 9, even in situations where stars cannot be introduced into the astronomical telescope 3 due to inclement weather, it is possible to show visitors the star map of the day display 9 and have them learn. can.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various embodiments can be implemented without changing the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] The astronomical telescope control device of the present invention directs the astronomical telescope to the desired observed celestial object simply by inputting the desired observed celestial object. As a result, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent control device for an astronomical telescope that allows a desired celestial object to be easily and quickly introduced into the astronomical telescope.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic structure of a control device for an astronomical telescope according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a control device for an astronomical telescope according to an embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the basic structure of a control device for an astronomical telescope according to the present invention. Flowcharts of the example astronomical telescope control routine FIGS. 4 to 13 are explanatory diagrams of screens displayed on the display of the example. 1... Astronomical telescope control device 3... Astronomical telescope 5... Drive device 7... Control computer 9... Display] 3... Handset

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A control device for an astronomical telescope that directs an astronomical telescope to a desired observed celestial object, comprising an observed celestial object input means for inputting the desired observed celestial object, and an observation device for determining the current coordinates of the specified observed celestial object. A control device for an astronomical telescope, comprising: celestial coordinate calculation means; and direction change means for changing the direction of the astronomical telescope based on the calculated value of the observed celestial coordinate calculation means.