ART technical

Recognising that the equivalent of 120 clear nights per year could be available to an autonomous robotic telescope situated at the Armagh Observatory, it was decided to construct a modern telescope and dome with the goal of making research quality observations of variable stars and other transient phenomena from the Observatory site in Armagh. Procurement commenced in 2009 January. The initial system comprised:

1. Dome: Sirius Observatories 3.5m
2. Mount: Paramount ME German Equatorial
3. Main Telescope: PlaneWave Instruments 43 cm f/6.8 corrected Dall-Kirkham Reflector with Carbon-Fibre Truss
4. Auxiliary Telescope: Takahashi FSQ 10.6 cm f/5.0 apochromatic refractor
5. Guide Telescope: Equinox 120ED guidescope
6. Autoguider: Starlight-Xpress 'Lodestar'
7. Camera: Starlight Xpress XSVR-H36 CCD
8. Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress + Astronomik LRGB 50mm

The dome is sited about 10 m south of the existing Robinson dome. Construction of the dome base commenced in March 2010. The following represents an incomplete synopsis of items and systems installed and tested.

Base and Pier

• The pier consists of a 1 m^3 cube of concrete topped by a 1.5 x 0.4 x 0.4 m reinforced pier, all cast as a single unit. The top has a recessed lifting bracket.
• The pier was aligned using a meridian established by the shadow cast by a vertical pole; the known position of the dome; the published time of solar transit; and a GPS timer.
• The base is constructed in 2 sections. A central circular upstand of 3.0m diameter, provides the main dome floor, and includes flush-floor trunking for data and power. Construction is approx 50 cm of concrete reinforced with two steel mats, over a a damp proof membrane.
• An outer platform of 5.5m diameter provides the base for the dome to be anchored, and an exterior walkway. Construction is aprox 30 cm of steel-reinforced concrete, with a fall away toward the outer rim for rainwater runoff.
• Final floor surface -- non-slip black paint
• Structure surrounded by 2 m fence

Dome

• Dome assembly and location - done
• Wall to concrete fixings - done
• Dome wall fixings - done
• Dome rotation motors - ok
• Dome opening mechanisms - ok
• Dome automation: - done
• Dome lighting
  • main lights: done
  • emergency light: torch installed by door
  • low-level working light: done
• Shelf-unit fitting: done

Dome services ==

• Dome fan - done
• Solar panel operation - ok
• Power to dome - done
• Power to sockets - done
• Fiber optic data connection - done
• De-humidifier - second unit failed 2019
• Heater - test running, requires theormostat / humididty controller
• Climate control interlocks (de-humidifer and heater must not operate when dome is open)
• Test: Climate control systems

Mount Installation

• Paramount mounting plate secured to top of pier -- done
• Paramount mount attached to mounting plate -- done
• Wide field scope and Finder scope attached to mount -- 11/10/10,
• removed to make way for main scope -- 26/10/10
• Mount levelling -- 26/10/10

Main Telescope

CDK17

• unpacked and moved to CSJ's office : 18/10/10
• moved to dome and attached to mount : 3/11/10
• balance : OK 3/11/10
• collimation :
• focus : EFA (electronic focus assembly)
  • tested OK 20/10/10
  • failed 21/10/10.
  • replacement parts requested 22/10/10.
  • acknowledged 25/10/10.
  • replacement shipped: 8/11/10
  • replacement received, fitted and tested: 22/11/10

Instruments

• Filter Wheel -- tested
• CCD -- tested
• CCD -- pinhole images
• Assembly -- connector rings and spacers required
  • Spacer ?
  • Filter Wheel <-> Telescope (on order)
  • Camera <-> Filter Wheel (resolved)

Finder Telescope

• Attached to piggy back dovetail.

Autoguider

[http://www.starlight-xpress.co.uk/Lodestar.htm The 'Lodestar' autoguider]

Wide Field Apochromatic

Control Computer

Control Software

• TheSkySix: installed 11/10/10: provides user interface to the mount, controls telescope pointing.
• TPoint: installed 15/10/10: compensates for pointing error in telescope.
• ACP (evaluation download): installed 21/10/10: Allows automation of entire observatory and controls all other software.
• MaxIm DL (evaluation download): installed 21/10/10: Controls camera and focus and filterwheel.
• FocusMax: installed 21/10/10: Allows ACP's auto-focus function to be used.
• Various ASCOM drivers: installed 10/10: Allows ACP to control all necessary software for automation.
• Paramount Orchestrate: installed 26/10/10: Paramount's automation software package.
• Drivers for SXVR-H36: installed 01/11/10: Allows computer to control camera.
• Drivers for filter wheel: installed 01/11/10: Allows computer to control filter wheel.
• SXVR-H36 control software: installed 01/11/10: User-interface for camera control.
• Filter wheel control software: installed 01/11/10: User-interface for filter wheel control.
• MaxIm Dl: installed 06/01/11 with full licence.
• ACP: installed 10/01/11 with 'Expert' licence.
• Maxdome II: installed.

Climate Control: Internal

The purpose of these systems will be to control the environment within the dome in order to

• optimize the performance of the telescope
• prevent water damage to the telescope and other equipment

Options to consider

• Air-conditioning -- frost-proof
• Air-conditioning -- budget
• Air-heating
• Equipment heating

Climate Control: External

The purpose of these systems will be to inform the control systems when

1. it is safe to open the dome and commence observing and
2. the dome must be closed