Dark Ridge Observatory (DRO)

Site

Latitude and longitude: 32:48:12N, 105:28:29W (+32.80333, -105.4747)
Elevation: 7100ft (2164m)

Site manager: Tom Smith

Internet access:  DSL

Weather statistics: 30% photometric, 40% usable, 30% cloudy

Typical good seasons: April-June and September-October

Telescopes at the Dark Ridge Observatory:

APASS North
DRO61

APASS North

Telescope
Type: corrected Newtonian

Aperture: 20cm

Focal length: 720mm

F-ratio: 3.6

Focuser: OKI electronic

Mount
Paramount ME

pointing accuracy: 1arcmin

maximum unguided tracking

restrictions, if any: 5mins

Computer: Linux

Software: TheSky, MaxIm DL, ACP, ACP Scheduler

Telecope Advocate: A. Henden

Imaging

Typical seeing: 1-2arcsec

Best seeing: 1arcsec

Vignetting: severe; 30%

Scattered light: some, taken out in processing

Camera

Image defects: bad column

Type: Apogee U16m

Filter wheel: Apogee 7s

Filters: B,V,u,g,r,i,z

Exposure ratios/filter:

Pixel count: 4096x4096

Pixel scale: 2.56 arcsec/pix

Field of view: 2.9x2.9 degrees

Gain: 2.69

Readnoise: 9.21

Linearity (graph)

Full well: 80Ke-

Cosmetic defects:

Dark current:

Read time: 25sec

Shortest exposure: 0.2sec (3sec recommended)

Compressed image size: 10MB

QE response (graph)

Images of typical darks, typical flats

Typical Use of System

All-sky survey; some bright-time projects

Miscellaneous Notes

Telescope
Type: Cassegrain
Aperture: 24in (61cm)