diff --git a/src/Glossary.tex b/src/Glossary.tex index 0354e55..c9c6dfd 100644 --- a/src/Glossary.tex +++ b/src/Glossary.tex @@ -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 diff --git a/src/Ground_Stations.tex b/src/Ground_Stations.tex index d6d6a02..59b21d9 100644 --- a/src/Ground_Stations.tex +++ b/src/Ground_Stations.tex @@ -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}. diff --git a/src/Hardware.tex b/src/Hardware.tex index 655c0b9..e558d98 100644 --- a/src/Hardware.tex +++ b/src/Hardware.tex @@ -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.