Re: [ATM] Patent Application for an Automatic Telescope

[<atm@hudler.org>]

	The patent images show a device placed on the side of the scope that
contains the imaging device for find stars. It would require some sort of
crude shutter to prevent "ignarus solis fundo" or (pig latin) 'Stupiditis
Solis Meltus'. 
	The device contains a list angles between bright stars; Sirus,
Canopus, Rigel K, Arcturus, Vega, and Capella. So I would assume the field
of view would have to be large. It talks about taking snap shots of the sky
and correlating objects it finds to deduce the location and orientation of
scope.
	Given that field of view, it wouldn't be a very high precision
device; "just get the tele ligned dangit, I don't care bout no level stuff".
	He says the device doesn't have to line up with the tube however; it
might make for some interesting tube banging noises should that be
attempted.

	Still, what's the point? Why did you buy the telescope in the first
place? I've seen newbie's pick up a star wheel and have their new goto
telescope roughly setup in one evening. After you've learned the basic setup
you get better and better. Then you desire TPOINT ;), a CCD, bigger
telescope, not to mention concupisco apertureitis.
	
	A better invention (not covered by any embodiment in the patent)
would be to make a device that magnetically clips to any Goto scope and set
it up. It would make a nice sales incentive for telescope store to loan them
out for a few weeks. After all once you've learn to set it up you won't have
any further need for it.

	In the final analysis; it's nice toy that you soon outgrow. Though,
another embodiment might make an excellent high speed sextant; but then we
have GPS for that.

Jack

	Hey I should write that in a review! ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: Nils Olof Carlin [mailto:nilsolof.carlin@telia.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 4:50 AM
To: atm@hudler.org; atm@atmlist.net
Subject: Re: [ATM] Patent Application for an Automatic Telescope

The telescope ought to have some digital imaging device, and if it 
receives too much light, it gives an error message saying let's call it 
a day...

The whole thing seems possible, but I expect an auxiliary wide-angle 
camera that catches a large celestial area in one shot might make more 
sense than having the telescope tube sweep the sky.

I have an old 50 mm f/0.7 lens that I haven't yet found any use for - 
the true field is about 1/2", and off the cuff this would mean a 15 deg 
field or so. It may be useful for such a purpose. Then I expect it 
takes a bit of computer processing, but not unreasonably so...

Nils Olof



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