Re: [ATM] Any Amateur Adaptive or Active Optics ?

["Jacob Lauser" <sirius@riverstyx.com>]

Matt,

I work for an aerospace company that is currently building a large telescope
in co-operation with the university of Arizona. I know adaptive and active
optics may seem like simple concepts, but they really aren't. Not only is
the hardware integration complex, but then you're talking about software and
other considerations. Just ask anyone trying to Bartelize their Dob and
you'll find someone with a new respect for motorized telescopes. In order
for such optics to work, you need a feedback control to interact with load
cells to tell actuators how much to push, and ultimately the cost just isn't
worth it until you get big, REAL BIG with the mirrors. As the addage (and
the song) goes - money, money, money!! In this case, I would argue that
computers are no the limiting factor, but rather the mechanics and software.
Read this for a better grasp of the subject: http://cfao.ucolick.org/ao/

Don't get me wrong... I would love it if someone cooked up a package for the
amateur. I just think you're underestimating the problem...

- Jake Lauser
Tucson, Arizona


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