Re: ATM All Sky Instrument

[astillma@nit.AirTouch.COM (Anthony Stillman)]

John,

I recently saw a news note about a 0.031 meter f/1.8 instrument installed
in on THE mountain in Chile.  It is a Cannon camera lens and a CCD and is
intended to collect wide angle images of the sky.  It works semi-autonomously,
asking the principle observer, on a nightly basis, if it is OK to open the dome 
and expecting a human to collect the data tape once a week.  I would have
installed a rain and wind sensor and twisted pair for day time down links but
the professionals seem quite happy with it.  

The principal complaint I have with Schmidts is the pickyness of focus.  Perhaps
with a CCD and quick feed back this wouldn't be so bad.  I think using an old
camera and a fast lens with all the focal plan well defined would be easier.
 One thing though, all camera lens vignette in the corners, even expensive
 Nikon lens.

Anthony