PC-based control of an open-loop solar-tracking system for a German equatorial mount

Date

4-2014

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Alexandra B. Santos-Putungan

Abstract

Solar observation provides an opportunity for astronomers to study the Sun in great detail using various optical and electronic devices. For efficient solar observation, the mount axes are adjusted according to the solar rate to ensure that the solar disk remains within the field of view (FOV) of the imaging system. In this study, an automated German equatorial mount (GEM) with solar tracking system was constructed to provide instrument control and solar tracking capabilities. Using an L293D monolithic integrated high voltage, high current four channel driver, the bipolar stepper motors attached to the mount axes were controlled by a gizDuino microcontroller to track the Sun?s movement during the day. It was adjusted according to the angle that the mount axes move in every motor step. With a 138 teeth gear and 200 motor step, a value of 4.6957 arc seconds per motor step was calculated. A graphical user interface (GUI) which sends signal to the microcontroller serially was developed to control the telescope mount system. With a Baader white light solar filter and a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera directly attached to the telescope mount, images were captured every 5 minutes. These images were processed to obtain the position of the Sun?s center and the time it was taken. Four trials were obtained and an average drift rate of 0.8265, 0.6968, 0.1222, and 1.053 arc seconds/second for declination. And an average drift rate of 0.4049, 0.1813, 0.2616, and 0.0304 arc seconds/second were obtained for right ascension. Factors affecting the Sun?s drift rate were attributed to wind, misalignment to the polar axis and the mechanism of the GEM. The mount system could be used for future observation of solar activities in the Philippines.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2014 P51 /N47

Document Type

Thesis

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