Automating Spectroscopy

[Peter Prendergast]

So, using ACP Expert for Spectroscopy is not immediately obvious to me ....must be a way.

Problem:
Main imaging camera is busy taking a picture of the spectroscopic data
Autoguider.....is taking a picture of the star of interest who's position is critical.
In order to get that star absolutely centered somehow its got to be plate solved....but your plate solving the autoguider not the main imager
Once the star is centered of course the autoguiding can happen as always. Remember it can't be any star its got to be THE star.

I was thinking of how to get ACP to plate solve the image in the auto guider and then autoguide off of it but just couldn't come up with a solution

Basically what it comes down to is I need ACP Expert to ...as usual....run all the gear, move the scope to RA and DEC given, plate solve the autogider image, put the star dead center...as usual...then autoguide off that very image. While taking a image with the main camera. Keep in mind the autoguider here will have a very wide FOV.

Has anyone done this, if not can ACP Expert be modified to do this? Pretty pretty important.
Peter

[Bob Denny]

Peter -- I have a project going to do this with Oxford University. It is a rather complex and extensive project. The big issue is the wide variation in spectrograph designs and programmability. They have 5 remote systems, and the spectrographs are custom built, not production devices.

It will be months. I'll let you know when/if we get it going. I am not 100% certain it is practical.

[Peter Prendergast]

Bob
Thanks I'm going to be using the eshel but that doesn't matter. All ACP has to do is take care of my Apogee as usual and an Atik camera. ACP needs to plate solve the image from the Atik start auto guiding with the Atik and once settled start the image with the apogee. For my needs that is the only change needed. Plate solve and auto guide with the same camera and I'm golden.
Peter

[Bob Denny]

It sounds easy but the devil is in the details. Also, I can only take on one project like this at a time.

[Peter Prendergast]

I understand, I'll have to change over then to Adela, a not so sophisticated program.....

[Bob Denny]

For now you'll need to use a spectroscopy tool. I can't find info on Adela though.

[Peter Prendergast]

typo Audela its nothing like ACP Expert, SOOOOOOO, if there is ANY WAY HUMANLY possible......the resultant improvement in data acquisition will be e to the 10x improved. ....its poor Bob its just poor.....
Peter

[Bob Denny]

And this gives total automation to a spectrograph?

[Peter Prendergast]

No . But it will plate solve on the auto guider then guide off of it the main imager sits in a refrigerator attached to the spectrograph. If ACP Expert could plate dove and center the auto guider and image with the main imager I could bring down tons of data and process it later.

[Bob Denny]

Well hang in there. I need to finish this one first. Things have settled down on the support front thank heavens. On the flip side we are now scheduled for three conferences before before Summer! Our business is booming!