The Las Campanas Observatory - Chile |
||
![]() |
||
This remotely operated telescope system (affectionately nicknamed LCOBOT) became a reality due to the efforts of a dedicated group of private stakeholders and Median year-round seeing at Las Campanas is around 0.6 arc-seconds, with a number of nights much better than that. Pitch black skies and incredible atmospherics
|
||
The Stakeholders and Principal Donors | ||
![]() |
Mike Long (left) and John Hoot (right) pictured during shakedown testing at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California prior to shipping the equipment to Chile.
|
|
Roland and Marj Christen, owners of Astro-Physics Inc. of Rockford, Illinois were the major contributors of equipment to the project, supplying the 12” Mak-Cass telescope and
|
![]() |
|
Dave Jurasevich organized the major equipment donations and provided welding and machining services for the project. He was a member of the installation and commissioning team in Chile. |
||
![]() |
A major contributor to this project was Finger Lakes Instrumentation of Lima, New York, supplying at no cost the CCD camera, filter wheel, and focuser. A special thanks to Greg Terrance, General Manager for all his efforts in making that happen. |
|
![]() |
Santa Barbara Instruments, through the efforts of Michael Barber, provided the guider camera for LCOBOT. |
|
![]() |
Don Goldman of Astrodon provided the project with deep discounts on filters and the MMOAG off-axis guider. |
|
The Equipment |
||
![]() |
Custom designed and built by Roland Christen, the 12” f/8 Astro-Physics Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is the centerpiece of the system. It sits
|
|
The computer rack is located in an adjoining control room on the south side of the roll-off.
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
The imaging train is fixed to the back of the OTA (no instrument rotator), with all power and signal cables routed through the Astro-Physics 1600 mount for ease of cable management. Note the fan port and removable covers on the rear cell of the telescope. Equipment Specs:
|
|
The light panel assembly for taking calibration flats consists of an Optec flat screen mounted on a custom fabricated aluminum stand. The power and controls for the flat screen are in the weatherproof enclosure mounted to the stand directly beneath the screen. Note the small webcam mounted atop the enclosure for visually checking the position of the telescope. Equipment Specs
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Attached to the north side of the pier is the NEMA 4 telescope junction box. This enclosure is the interface for all data and power between the telescope and computer rack, This box has since been upgraded with the USB extenders for the FLI and SBIG cameras replaced with an Icron Ranger USB Extender for more reliable service. |
|
Waiting for the Stars | ||
![]() |
||
Click here to take a VIP Tour of the Las Campanas Observatory |
Home | Image Gallery | Equipment | Observing Sites | About Dave | Links | Contact Me |
||