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An Innovative Telescope Design for CCD Photometry

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John E. F. Baruch

Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7-1DP, U. K.

Presented at the First European Meeting of the AAVSO Brussels, July 24-28, 1990

Abstract

The development of a dedicated telescope for CCD photometry creates a number of opportunities for innovative solutions to old problems. The small field of the CCD enables simple Newtonian optics to be used. The addition of computer modeling for the telescope structure makes a simplified altitude-azimuth mounting attractive. It also enables two foci to be taken through the altitude bearings, simplifying the cabling. This arrangement is an approximation to the Nasmyth mounting and provides a simple but robust mount suitable for automatic operation.