Systems and methods for automated telescope alignment and orientation

Abstract

Embodiments of an automated telescope system are operable in multiple modes, including alt-az and equatorial modes. The telescope system aligns and orients itself to the celestial coordinate system using, for example, data gained through tracking the drift of a celestial object. In various embodiments, an imager may be used to find and track celestial objects.

1 . An alignment system capable of generating instructions to position at least optical components of an instrument usable to view distant objects and capable of aligning the optical components with celestial objects, The alignment system comprising: 
 software instructions stored in a computer readable medium and capable of instructing a microprocessor to determine latitude of at least optical components of an instrument usable to view distant objects; and    software instructions stored in the computer readable medium and capable of instructing the microprocessor to determine longitude of the optical components by evaluating a track of a known celestial object through the sky.    
     
     
         2 . The alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to determine latitude include software instructions capable of causing the optical components to point toward a pole star and then to point toward the horizon.  
     
     
         3 . The alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to determine latitude include software instructions for approximating the latitude.  
     
     
         4 . The alignment system of  claim 3 , wherein the approximation is about 38° N.  
     
     
         5 . The alignment system of  claim 3 , wherein the approximation uses iterative corrections.  
     
     
         6 . The alignment system of  claim 5 , wherein the iterative corrections comprise repositionings of the optical components in order to track the known celestial object.  
     
     
         7 . The alignment system of  claim 6 , wherein the repositionings comprise manual repositionings.  
     
     
         8 . The alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to use altitude data at a plurality of viewing positions of the known celestial object as it tracks through the sky.  
     
     
         9 . The alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to use data sensed from one or more of a tilt sensor, a North sensor, a South sensor, an MR sensor, global positioning system (GPS), a differential GPS, and a NMEA interface.  
     
     
         10 . A method of precisely aligning a telescope system, the method comprising: 
 determining a level position and a pole (N/S) position of a telescope system;    electronically slewing to an area of a known celestial object;    centering a field of view on the known celestial object;    tracking the known celestial object as it moves through the sky; and    electronically determining an orientation of the telescope system with respect to a celestial system.    
     
     
         11 . An electronically positioned telescope system including a telescope and one or more microprocessors capable of instructing motor systems to position the telescope, the telescope system comprising: 
 a first motor system capable of rotating a telescope about one of two orthogonal axes;    a second motor system capable of rotating the telescope about the other of the two orthogonal axes; and    a microprocessor capable of providing instructions to and receiving position information from the first and second motor systems, wherein the microprocessor is configured to instruct the first and second motor systems to slew the telescope to a celestial object, to acquire position information corresponding to movements of the first and second motor systems as the telescope tracks a celestial object over time, and to determine a relationship between a celestial coordinate system and the telescope from at least portions of the position data.    
     
     
         12 . The electronically positioned telescope system of  claim 11 , wherein the celestial object is an arbitrary celestial object.  
     
     
         13 . The electronically positioned telescope system of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to instruct the first and second motor systems to slew the telescope to a celestial pole, to resolve an orientation of a pole star cluster using an electronic imager, and to determine a precise orientation of the telescope with respect to a celestial system.  
     
     
         14 . The electronically positioned telescope system of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is also capable of providing instructions to the first and second motor systems that cause the telescope to automatically track a drift of a known celestial object over time.  
     
     
         15 . An automatic telescope operable to determine an orientation, the telescope comprising: 
 a vision device operable to sense bright stars;    a base operable to support the vision device;    a cradle attached to the base and operable to movably support the vision device with respect to the base;    a drive mechanism operable to move the cradle with respect to the base; and    a processor operable to control the drive mechanism in order to determine the orientation of the vision device using a vision signal from the vision device.    
     
     
         16 . The telescope as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the vision device is a CCD camera operable to generate a vision signal representative of the bright stars.  
     
     
         17 . The telescope as set forth in  claim 15 , further including a database operable to contain information relating to a plurality of known stars.  
     
     
         18 . The telescope as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein each bright star is sensed by analyzing the vision signal received from the vision device.  
     
     
         19 . The telescope as set forth in  claim 15 , further including a motion sensor operable to sense motion of the telescope.  
     
     
         20 . The telescope as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the motion sensor is operable to sense motion along a first and second axis of motion.  
     
     
         21 . The telescope as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operable to control the drive mechanism in order to align the telescope with a specified star.  
     
     
         22 . An alignment system capable of aligning an optical system by tracking a celestial objects' drift, the alignment system comprising software instructions stored in a computer readable medium, the software instructions capable of instructing a microprocessor to determine a relationship between an observation system and a celestial coordinate system based on a direction of monitored movement of a celestial object through the sky and a magnitude of the monitored movement of the celestial object.  
     
     
         23 . The alignment system of  claim 22 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor comprise software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to monitor the movement of the celestial object.  
     
     
         24 . The alignment system of  claim 22 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor comprise software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to iteratively determine the relationship.  
     
     
         25 . The alignment system of  claim 22 , wherein the software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor comprise software instructions capable of instructing the microprocessor to use data sensed from one or more of a tilt sensor, a North sensor, a South sensor, an MR sensor, global positioning system (GPS), a differential GPS, and a NMEA interface.  
     
     
         26 . An electronically positioned telescope capable of aligning its optical system by tracking a celestial object's drift, the telescope comprising a microprocessor capable of monitoring movement of the telescope as it tracks movement of a celestial object, the microprocessor also capable of electronically determining a relationship between the telescope and a celestial coordinate system based on a direction of the movement of the celestial object and a magnitude of the movement of the celestial object.  
     
     
         27 . A method of drift aligning an optical system, the method comprising: 
 slewing an optical system to include a celestial object within a field of view of the optical system;    electronically acquiring data indicative of movement of the celestial object;    electronically processing said data to at least partially determine a relationship between said optical system and a celestial coordinate system based on a direction of said movement and a magnitude indicative of said movement of the celestial object;    using said relationship, electronically selecting a known celestial object; and    using said relationship, guiding a user in slewing or electronically slewing said optical system to include said known celestial object within said filed of view.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said electronically acquiring data indicative said movement comprises at least one of electronically acquiring image data and electronically tracking movement of said optical system as said optical system tracks said movement of said celestial object.