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ATM Alt-alt telescope mount - and image rotation
I'm doing some math analysis of image rotation of various types of
telescope mounts. One example is at:
http://overton.tamu.edu/aset/krajci/scope-design.htm
where I discuss image rotation in the alt-az mount design.
As many of us know, the alt-az design can't access the zenith.
But the alt-alt design can. (Think of an equatorial mount, but lower the
polar axis so that it's horizontal...but still pointing to the north.)
The alt-alt can't access the extreme southern and northern horizons...but
that's seldom a problem for astronomers...and often far better than losing
the zenith, which is the problem for alt-az.
I have looked through this book:
http://www.willbell.com/tm/telecont.htm
and it provides equations for alt-az telescope motion and image rotation.
(It does not provide the same equations for alt-alt designs).
Unfortunately my trig. skills are not good enough for me to derive
equations to determine alt-alt telescope motion and image rotation. (Yes,
I can tell by looking at the alt-alt design that field rotation will be
worse when imaging near the low southern and northern horizons, but I need
more precise descriptions.)
Can anyone help me?
Based on field rotation of the alt-alt design...I may consider a future
telescope with such a mount. It might allow CCD imaging without the need
for a de-rotator at the focal plane if the alt-alt design keeps image
rotation low enough.
Thanks in advance,
Tom Krajci
Tashkent, Uzbekistan