spacecruft
/
SNOUG
1
0
Fork 1
Code Packages Releases 14 Activity

Info on mounts and tracking

glossary
Jeff Moe 2022-09-01 15:27:50 -06:00
parent 8244f9ce1c
commit fd2fafb985
3 changed files with 200 additions and 6 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

15
src/Glossary.tex
View File

@ -417,3 +417,18 @@
% constellations
% fork
% port
% hamlib
% PTZ
% pier
% Celestron
% iOptron
% amateur radio
% ham
% star trails
% EQ equitorial
% fork software, fork mount
% firmware
% ISS
% GOTO
% sidereal
% slew

4
src/Ground_Stations.tex
View File

@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ The \gls{LSF} is developing \gls{SatNOGS-Optical} to add
\glspl{optical-ground-station} to the distributed network.
Prototype \glspl{optical-ground-station} are being developed. An example
setup, using a Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro telescope tripod and tracking mount,
\index{Skywatcher}\index{telescope}\index{tripod}\index{mount}\index{enclosure}
setup, using a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro telescope tripod and tracking mount,
\index{Sky-Watcher}\index{telescope}\index{tripod}\index{mount}\index{enclosure}
can be seen in Figure
\ref{fig:video-enclosure-mount-tripod}, page \pageref{fig:video-enclosure-mount-tripod}.

187
src/Hardware.tex
View File

@ -136,10 +136,10 @@ The full setup on tripod, can be seen in
A close up of the setup can be seen at
\ref{fig:video-enclosure-mount}, page \pageref{fig:video-enclosure-mount},
showing the Skywatcher telescope tracking mount,
showing the Sky-Watcher telescope tracking mount,
a Bosch \gls{PoE} camera enclosure,
and through the glass the camera lens.
\index{Skywatcher}\index{telescope}\index{mount}\index{Bosch}\index{PoE}\index{camera}
\index{Sky-Watcher}\index{telescope}\index{mount}\index{Bosch}\index{PoE}\index{camera}
\index{lens}
In the background is a white antenna for \gls{GNSS} (\gls{GPS}) and a solar power setup.
\index{GNSS}\index{GPS}\index{solar power}
@ -264,7 +264,186 @@ See figure \ref{fig:video-enclosure-top}, page \pageref{fig:video-enclosure-top}
\end{figure}
\section{Tripods}
\label{sec:hardware-tripod}
\index{hardware}\index{tripod}\index{camera}
The camera setup can be mounted a wide variety of ways,
from just setting the camera somewhere (worst option), to a heavy duty
pier with tracking mount (best option).
At present, most prototype optical ground stations are using static mounts
on tripods.
Tripod and similar options include:
\begin{mdframed}[backgroundcolor=blue!10,linecolor=blue!30]
\begin{description}
\item [No mount] --- Quick and dirty, just hang the camera out somewhere sitting on something.
\item [Small tripod] --- There are small desk tripods than can be used with lighter
setups, such as used with a Raspberry Pi PiCamera.
\item [Photography Tripod] --- Using a common camera tripod, of which there is a wide
variety, from light to heavy.
\item [Telescope Tripod] --- Similar to photography tripods, but typically heavier weight.
\item [Telescope Portable Pier] --- Similar to a telescope tripod, but much heavier, typically
with a larger center pier post. Still movable, and folds up similar to a photography tripod.
\item [Telescope Pier] --- A wide variety, such as making a ~1.5 meter permanent cement post.
\end{description}
\end{mdframed}
\index{pier}
\section{Mounts}
\label{sec:hardware-mounts}
\index{mount}\index{track}
For mounts, there are two main types: tracking or static.
By the latter ``static'' mounts, it is meant that the
camera, the tripod, and the mount all stay motionless.
This is what you would get using a camera with a common photography
tripod and a simple mounting plate.
Static mounting options include:
\begin{mdframed}[backgroundcolor=blue!10,linecolor=blue!30]
\begin{description}
\item [Camera plate] --- Commonly used on cameras and readily available for mounting
cameras to tripods.
\item [Enclosure plate] --- A flat plate with holes drilled in it to mount the camera
inside an enclosure.
\item [``Security'' camera enclosure mount] --- Various mounts exist to mount
security cameras to posts, walls, etc.
\end{description}
\end{mdframed}
\index{camera}\index{mount}
Tracking mount options to consider include:
\begin{mdframed}[backgroundcolor=blue!10,linecolor=blue!30]
\begin{description}
\item [Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro] --- Telescope mount using {INDI}.
\item [Celestron] --- Wide variety of telescope mounts using {INDI}.
\item [iOptron] --- Telescope mount with (untested) satellite tracking.
\item [INDI Telescope Mounts] --- A wide variety of other \gls{INDI} compatible telescope mounts.
\item [Yaesu G-5500] --- Antenna \gls{rotator}.
\item [hamlib] --- Other hamlib compatible \glspl{rotator}.
\item [FLIR PTU-5] --- High Performance Pan-Tilt Unit designed for security cameras (untested, no drivers?).
\item [Misc PTZ] --- Other security camera pan/tilt mounts.
\end{description}
\end{mdframed}
\index{track}\index{mount}\index{Sky-Watcher}\index{INDI}\index{Celestron}
\index{Yaesu}\index{rotator}\index{hamlib}\index{FLIR}\index{pan/tilt}
\index{iOptron}
Tracking mounts aren't widely used, but there is support for them in
\texttt{stvid} when acquiring data.
The tracking needs to be set up independently of \texttt{stvid}.
At present, I use Kstars with Ekos to control a Sky-Watcher tracking
mount.
\index{KStars}\index{Ekos}\index{Sky-Watcher}\index{stvid}\index{track}
For tracking, there a few different ways to track:
\begin{mdframed}[backgroundcolor=blue!10,linecolor=blue!30]
\begin{description}
\item [Static] --- No tracking, just point at one place in the sky.
Generates star trails.
Generates satellite trails.
\item [Sidereal tracking] --- Tracks stars.
Generates stars as points.
Generates satellite trails.
\item [Satellite tracking] --- Tracks satellites.
Generates stars as tracks.
Generates satellites as points or potentially larger images
of the satellite structure.
\end{description}
\end{mdframed}
\subsection{Sidereal Tracking Mounts}
Sidereal tracking (``telescope tracking'') is what \gls{COTS} tracking ``GOTO''
\glspl{telescope} from Celestron or Sky-Watcher do, for example. They tracks
the stars, countering the rotation of the Earth to keep the same view
of the sky in the camera's \gls{FOV}. Stars remain as points, even after multi-minute
or multi-hour imaging. This is what is used for ``pretty'' pictures
of stars, nebula, galaxies, etc.
This is the most common tracking set up, as it has been widely used in
astronomy communities for decades.
Within sidereal tracking mounts, there are yet more options:
\begin{mdframed}[backgroundcolor=blue!10,linecolor=blue!30]
\begin{description}
\item [Fork] --- Fork mount.
\item [EQ fork] --- Fork on EQ mount.
\item [German EQ] --- Most common EQ mount.
\item [More] --- Endless variety of available telescope mounts.
\end{description}
\end{mdframed}
\index{German EQ}\index{fork} %XXX
\index{mount}\index{track}
Also related to sidereal tracking is lunar and planetary
tracking, but for our uses all three will be included under sidereal tracking.
To use a sidereal tracking mount for imaging satellites, the camera
must ``leap frog'' the satellite.
At present, my practice is to use a sidereal mount, point at a location with Kstars,
start stvid. Then stop stvid, move to new location using Kstars,
start stvid.
\index{track}\index{Kstars}\index{stvid}
See Software section XXX for information on using tracking mounts.
\subsection{Satellite Tracking Mounts}
\index{track}\index{mount}
Of the options between a static mount (no tracking), sidereal tracking,
and satellite tracking, the latter is by far the least common.
In this case, the tracking mount is tracking the satellite itself.
This is much more complex than tracking stars, which it builds upon.
It requires, such as:
\begin{mdframed}[backgroundcolor=blue!10,linecolor=blue!30]
\begin{description}
\item [Time] --- Accurate time, such as from \gls{GNSS}.
\item [Location] --- Accurate location, also available from \gls{GNSS}.
\item [TLE] --- Need to know the \glspl{satellite}' orbit (accurately!).
\item [Variable speed tracking] --- \Glspl{satellite} are moving at different
speeds above, the mount needs to be capable of that.
\item [Human guided] --- Some skilled amateurs track by hand.
\item [Alignment] --- On top of all the gear and software needed,
the equipment needs to be accurately aligned.
\end{description}
\end{mdframed}
\index{GNSS}\index{TLE}
Most tracking equipment for \glspl{telescope},
cameras, and antennas usually has just a few speeds, such as a slewing speed
and a sidereal star tracking speed. Sometimes there will be a few steps
of these speeds (e.g. slew speeds from 1-9), but not the finely tuned tracking
speeds needed to track a satellite. Oftentimes the telescope tracking maximum
speed will be too slow for satellite tracks.
Variable speed tracking (XXX phrase?) is needed for tracking satellites if
the goal is to keep the satellite in the (near) center of the image frame
and leave star trails. The speed the mount moves needs to be calculated
based upon a recent orbit calcuation, such as from a \gls{TLE}.
There are highly skilled amateur astronomers that have captured detailed
pictures of artificial satellites, such as the ISS and astronauts doing
space walks, using hand guided telescopes with low cost \gls{CCD} imagers.
\index{CCD}\index{ISS}
% XXX ref
There are few options for satellite tracking mounts.
Some new iOptron telescope mount firmware supports tracking
satellites. This has been largely untested so far, but at present
is likely the best option, if a satellite tracking mount is wanted.
\index{iOptron}\index{track}\index{mount}
\section{Future Designs}
\label{sec:hardware-future}
\index{RASA}\index{telescope}\index{astrograph}
\index{rotator}\index{antenna}
@ -272,6 +451,6 @@ There is some discussion of using much larger ``lenses'', such as
a \gls{RASA} ``\gls{telescope}'' (See: \gls{astrograph}).
The primary concern is the lack of \gls{satellite}
tracking mounts, because \gls{telescope} mounts are generally too slow,
and need to leap-frog the \gls{satellite}. \Glspl{rotator} used for \glspl{antenna}
aren't stable enough for a camera.
and need to ``leap frog'' the \gls{satellite}. \Glspl{rotator} used for \glspl{antenna}
aren't typically stable enough for a camera.