SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TELESCOPE GUIDING UTILIZING AN ARTIFICIAL REFERENCE STAR

摘要

A system and method for telescope guiding requires creating an artificial reference star which is locked to the line of sight of the imaging means of a main telescope in the f ield-of-view (FOV) of a guide scope. A real guide star is selected using the guide scope, such that both artificial and guide stars are within the FOV of the guide scope. Guiding is accomplished by varying the line of sight such that the positional displacement between the guide and artificial stars on the guide star's focal plane is maintained approximately constant. The artificial star is created by generating a point source of light near the main scope's imaging means, directing the light outside the main scope and retroref lecting it at the same direction angle of the beam exiting the aperture into the guide scope, effectively locking the guide scope to the line of sight of the imaging means.