Curious - Guiding pre-autoguider

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starfield United States of America
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Curious - Guiding pre-autoguider

#1

Post by starfield »


Not quite sure where to post this, but was curious. I'm heading up to Palomar mountain soon and got to thinking about guiding that big telescope up there. How did they guide that monster before computers. I'm guessing that someone had to track a guide star manually? Did that usually fall to a grad student? Resident astronomer? Just trying to imagine what the workflow was like pre computer.
Scopes: Esprit 100, 12.5" Telekit Dob
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Guiding: ZWO 290 mini on 120mm guide scope
Mounts: EQ6R-Pro, EQ Platform.
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sdbodin United States of America
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Re: Curious - Guiding pre-autoguider

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Post by sdbodin »


If I remember correctly, the person taking the photographic plate would be in the upper cage riding the 'beast' using what was called a 'guiding microscope' focused on a star at the edge of the fov. The correction were manual and moved the plate holder not the big beast, it would just run at sidereal rate.

Don't try this at home,
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Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
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starfield United States of America
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Re: Curious - Guiding pre-autoguider

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Post by starfield »


sdbodin wrote: Fri May 14, 2021 4:02 am If I remember correctly, the person taking the photographic plate would be in the upper cage riding the 'beast' using what was called a 'guiding microscope' focused on a star at the edge of the fov.
Wow. I've seen that cage on a previous visit. Not a good place for anyone afraid of heights!
Scopes: Esprit 100, 12.5" Telekit Dob
Camera: 294 MC Pro, 224 mc, 2600mm
Guiding: ZWO 290 mini on 120mm guide scope
Mounts: EQ6R-Pro, EQ Platform.
Filters: Optolong L-Pro & L-Enhance, Chroma 36mm LRGB, 5nm HA, 3nm OIII, 3nm SII.
Software: SharpCap, SGP, StarTools 1.7, Photoshop, Pixinsight
The Death Star Observatory
Astro Photos:https://www.astrobin.com/users/starfield/
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Graeme1858 Great Britain
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Re: Curious - Guiding pre-autoguider

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Post by Graeme1858 »


That's one of the things that struck me on a visit to Greenwich Observatory, the very uncomfortable and difficult to reach chair the operator had to sit in to use the Airy's Transit Circle telescope.

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/ai ... versal-day

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Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
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Curious - Guiding pre-autoguider

#5

Post by Graeme1858 »


Moved to the Guiding forum.
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Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
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