YT40 TELESCOPE (2006-2008)
The T40 telescope was replaced by the Meade LX200GPS model in June 2006 with a telescope with a 40 cm span robotic features. "Ultra Wedge", which is provided by OPTEC and much more successful than Meade's standard equatorial setup (Wedge), is mostly equipped with CCD luminescence observations in this telescope equipped with filter wheel system OPTEC IFW and Apogee ALTA U47 CCD. The rotation of the telescope, CCD camera and dome is carried out completely under the control of the computer from the observation room downstairs, and remote observation can also be made when the conditions are appropriate (Radiolink connection, auxiliary staff, etc.).
The YT40 Telescope was dismantled in May 2008 to install the T60 telescope.
YT40 - General Features
| Model: | Meade LX200GPS |
| Optical class: | Schmidt-Cassegrain |
| Mirror diameter: | 409,6 mm |
| Focal length: | 4096 mm |
| Focus ratio: | f/10 |
| Separation power: | 0.28" |
| Focus scale: | 50"/mm |
| Seeker-I: | Meade 8x50 standard binoculars, area 5º |
| Seeker-II: | Takahashi FS-60C binoculars, Astrovid StellaCamII Video CCD, area 62'x46' |
| Dome: | ASH-DOME, "R" model 14'6" (4.42 m) diameter, 120 sec/cycle |
YT40 Telescope Handbook:
-> Meade Autostar + Apogee Alta U47
Apogee Alta U47 CCD Camera
The ST-8E CCD used in the TUG YT40 telescope was replaced by the Apogee ALTA U47 CCD, a more advanced CCD in March 2007. With this CCD-linked OPTEC IFW strainer replacement system, new filters and fast image download feature, observations have become more efficient on the YT40 telescope.
Permeability curves of Bessell filters --> U, B, V, R, I
Transmittance curves of Broadband color filters --> L, R, G, B
ALTA U47 CCD technical details --> Click
Apogee ALTA U47 CCD Camera Features
| Model: | ALTA U47, wide band, backlit |
| Chip type: | E2V CCD47-10 |
| Format: | 1024 x 1024 pixel |
| Pixel size: | 13 x 13 mikron |
| Chip size: | 13.3 x 13.3 mm (177.2 mm2) |
| Gain: | 1.5 e-/count |
| Noise (RMS): | 11.5 e- |
| "Bias" level: | 1521 (count) |
| Black current: | 0.06 e-/pixel/sn |
| Well Depth: | 100,000 e- |
| Dynamic Range: | 12-Bit (2 MHz) or 16-bit (700 KHz) |
| Binning: | 1x1 - 10x1024 |
| Exposure time: | 20 ms - 183 min. |
| Cooling: | 2 stages, TE + Air, up to 55 Cº below the enviroment |
| PC interface: | USB 2.0 |
| Transfer rate: | 2.5 sn (1024 x 1024 pixel) |
| Pixel Scale: | 0.66"/piksel (for YT40) |
| Image Area: | 11.3' x 11.3' (for YT40) |
| Software: | MaxIm DL/CCD 4.53 |
| Strainer Whell: | OPTEC IFW, 5 slots with 50 mm diameter |
| Filters: | Bessel UBVRI or LRGB |
