Automated Extinction Monitor
Automated Extinction Monitor is the first instrument I developed as part of my Ph.D. It is basically a small fully automated telescope dedicated for atmospheric extinction measurement. Instrument works by reading a text-based configuration file which provides details like object name, its coordinates, number of images to be captured, exposure time, time between two frames, etc. Instrument control software runs in command line and controls telescope as well as the CCD camera. Instrument software also generates a log file which can be used for troubleshooting in case of instrument malfunction.
- Mechanical design of the instrument
- Design and development of control electronics for the instrument. Electronic boards like Encoder Interface boards, Stepper Motor Driver Boards, limit switch interface, and Telescope controller boards were developed.
- Work on Embedded software and high-level software of the instrument.
- Installation of instrument at IAO Hanle, data collection, and paper publication.
Please see the Images and Publication list below for more information.
3D model of the AEM design.
Click on the Publication links below for more details: –
- T. K. Sharma et al., “An Automated Extinction and Sky-brightness Monitor for the Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle,” MNRAS, 470, 1091–1100 (2017).
- P. S. Parihar, T. K. Sharma, A. Surendran, P. M. M. Kemkar, Dadul, Urgain Stanzin, and G. C. Anupama, “Characterization of sites for Indian Large Optical Telescope Project,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 595 (2015) 012025; doi:10.1088/1742-6596/595/1/012025.