Observatory equipment
This page lists the detailed specifications of hardware and software used in the Calvin Observatory (on campus in Michigan) and the Calvin-Rehoboth Observatory (near Gallup, New Mexico). The two observatories are designed to be very similar in equipment. The local site is used for hands-on training, equipment testing, and nighttime viewing by students and visitors. The remote site is operated robotically via the internet and gathers high-quality data every clear night for class projects and research.
Both sites:
Telescope: Optical Guidance Systems RC16-75F with carbon fiber tube
Guidescope: Takahashi refractor FS-78, 3" diameter
Guide camera: ST-237
Slide Mirror: Van Slyke Engineering Versaport Slider
Dome automation: Meridian Controls solar powered, computer controlled dome motors
Power automation: X10
Telescope control software: Comsoft PC-TCS
Planetarium software: Software Bisque TheSky
Camera control and image processing software: Diffraction Limited Maxim DL
Astrometry software: PinPoint (from DC-3)
User interface: ACP ASCOM DC-3 Dreams (Astronomy software)
Remote operation: VNC (e.g. RealVNC)
Rack to support camera: custom built
Calvin-Rehoboth Telescope near Gallup, NM (photos)
Dome: Ash Manufacturing Company 10'6" diameter REB dome
Camera: Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-10XE
Filter Wheel: Two Optec IFW wheels with 2" filters (UBVRI, H-alpha and red continuum)
Focal Reducer: Optec WideField 0.62X Telecompressor
Web cam: TRENDnet TV-IP612P (installed May 2011)
Calvin Observatory in Grand Rapids, MI
Dome: Astro-Tec 15' diameter
Camera: Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-8XE
Filter Wheel: Santa Barbara Instrument Group CFW-8 with 1.25" filters (UBVRI, H-alpha and red continuum, O III and green continuum)
Focal Reducer: Optical Guidance Systems 0.63x
Spectroscope: Santa Barbara Instrument Group Self-Guided Spectrograph, mounted with SBIG ST-7E camera
Also used in the Calvin Observatory:
Two Meade LX-90 telescopes 8" f/10 x2
Binoculars: A Celestron 7x50 and an Orion 10x70.
