CCD离焦对现代日晕光度计测量结果影响分析

现代日晕光度计（Sky Brightness Monitor,SBM）是一种测定天文址点白昼大气参量的精密仪器,它已成为国际上太阳选址工作的重要设备之一。与国外同类设备不同的是,云南天文台研制的现代日晕光度计上的CCD相机系统可以被简单拆卸并保存,有利于选址踏勘阶段的携带和运输。为获取组装现代日晕光度计设备时可能存在的CCD离焦所导致的测量误差,于2011年6月在新疆奇台县和宁夏石嘴山市利用当地稳定的日照条件做了多次CCD大离焦量快变试验。统计结果表明,现代日晕光度计的CCD显著离焦可造成的相对测量误差约在6％之内。在正常情况下,即观测者基本按照物镜旋筒刻线标志在望远镜上安装CCD设备时,日晕测量的相对误差一般远小于6％。因此认为这种系统误差对优良址点的测量影响基本可以忽略。     

天文CCD片内放大器的噪声特性及其抑制方法

分析了低光度天文应用时CCD器件的主要噪声源的噪声特性和三种典型CCD读出信号处理方式的噪声抑制效果;提出了天文CCD读出信号的相关多次采样(CMS)处理新方法,并分析了四次采样抑制CCD读出噪声的实验结果。     

FITS、BMP和SCR图象格式及相互转换

本文详细介绍图象的ＦＩＴＳ格式、ＢＭＰ格式和ＳＣＲ格式。ＦＩＴＳ格式已经是天文界的通用格式，几乎所有的天文软件包都支持这一格式，而ＢＭＰ格式在ＰＣ计算机上有广泛的运用，有大量ＰＣ软件支持ＢＭＰ图象的显示，处理和打印。云南天文台的ＳＣＲ格式是ＰＣ机采集ＣＣＤ图象所使用的格式。实现这三种格式的相互转换，就可以自由的将ＣＣＤ图象在ＰＣ机和工作站上进行各种处理。转换的包括图象头和图象数据的转换，其关键在于交换数据的高低字节。     

An acousto-optical imaging spectrophotometer for astrophysical observations

We present the results of our tests of an acousto-optical imaging spectrophotometer with a CCD detector for astronomical observations. The tunable acousto-optical filter, based on a paratellurite single crystal with a 13 Å pass band operates in the wavelength range 6300–11000 Å. We obtained image spectra for the planetary nebula NGC 7027 in the Hα line and for Saturn in the methane absorption band, as well as Hα and continuum images for the nuclear region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068.     

The Digital Archive of the Photographic Images of the Córdoba Observatory Plates Collections

The astronomical events registered in photographic plates are unique. A remarkable interest in using old plates in many areas of the current astronomical research is widely recognized by the IAU. There are almost ten thousand plates in several collections at the Córdoba Observatory and most of them are nearly one century old. This photographic material is difficult to handle in order to get the information stored in it. The goal of this project is to make a digital archive of images of these collections. In this first survey plates are being scanned with a standard commercial transparency scanner. These low spatial resolution, low digital resolution and low signal-to-noise ratio images are intended for facilitating handling and visual inspection. However, one arc-second positions can be obtained. Photometric quality has not been yet determined. Otherwise high quality digital images can be acquired with a microdenstitometer based on a scientific grade CCD whose implementation is at its final stage. The possibility of using a better-performance scanner is being evaluated. It is planned to permit the access to low-resolution images via internet. High-resolution images of selected zones will be available upon request. At this first stage, collections totally digitized at low resolution are:Carte du Ciel and Small Magellanic Cloud Zones. Gaviola's Eta Carinae Spectra and Pulkovo Zones are still in process.     

Operational testing of the SBIG ST-6 CCD camera

The SBIG Model ST-6 CCD Imaging Camera was tested and found suitable for various kinds of astronomical observations on telescopes with apertures from 6 mm to 0.6 m. We discuss different noise sources, linearity, sensitivity, and other detector characteristics. Limits, which they set to the observations and accuracy of data evaluation process, are also discussed. Detection, accurate astrometry, and VR photometry limiting magnitudes are about 21, 20, and 17.5, respectively, with the 0.6-m telescope and 10-min integration time. Detection of 5th magnitude 1-second optical transients is possible with the 6-mm wide-field lens.     

Research on the readout noise suppression method for digital correlated double sampling

As the areas of CCD detectors and CCD mosaics have become larger and larger,the number of readout channels in astronomical cameras has increased accordingly to keep the image readout time within an acceptable range.For the large area cameras or the mosaic cameras,the analog Correlated Double Sampling(aCDS)circuit used in traditional astronomical cameras for suppressing readout noise is difficult to integrate into the camera controllers within the constraints of the space and energy consumption.Recently,digital CDS(dCDS)technology has been developed to solve this problem,which also offers novel analysis and noise suppression methods.In this study,a mathematical model is presented to conveniently analyze the frequency characteristic of a dCDS circuit,which is then simulated by a numerical method for investigating the noise suppression capability with different sampling weights.Importantly,using this model,the extreme point with lowest readout noise can be predicted for a certain dCDS model;and for a specific CCD readout frequency,readout noise can be suppressed by selecting the proper dCDS model.A testing system is then constructed for validating the efficiency of the proposed method.     

The current and future capabilities of MCP based UV detectors

At the heart of future space-based astronomical UV instruments will be a sensitive UV detector. Though there has been a death of new UV mission opportunities, detector development has continued. Improvements have been made in spatial resolution, dynamic range, detector size, quantum efficiency and background. At the same time the power and mass required to achieve these goals have decreased. We review the current capabilities of microchannel plate based detectors at Berkeley, both in the laboratory and aboard current on-orbit spacecraft. We also discuss what can be expected from the next generation of UV detectors over the next decade.     

Apex I and Apex II software packages for the reduction of astronomical CCD observations

We describe in detail the Apex I and Apex II software packages created for astrometric and photometric reductions of astronomical observations with CCD cameras. The Apex I software package has been created for the semiautomatic reduction of astronomical observations and has a convenient user interface. The Apex II software package allows for the completely automatic reduction of astrometric and photometric observations to be performed.     

Use of Mathematic Morphological Operators for Processing the Smeared Images of A Camera without Shutter

In the observation of space objects with a full-frame transfer CCD camera, the camera shutter is often removed, and therefore the smeared images are produced, which affect seriously the object detection and location. Based on the difference of geometrical morphology between star images and smears, a mathematical morphology method is proposed to process the smeared images. By comparing the position accuracies of stars and space objects before and after processing, it is veri?ed that the morphological method can effectively remove the smears from astronomical images, and can signi?cantly improve the detection rates and position accuracies of stars and moving objects. The result indicates that this is an effective method to eliminate the smearing effect.     

CCD图像数字定心算法的比较

从CCD采集的数字图像中提取天体的位置和光度信息对于天文研究具有基础意义.其中,恒星星像中心像素位置的精确测量对于天体测量至关重要.针对国际上常用的三种位置测量算法:修正矩方法、Gauss拟合法和中值法,利用实测的CCD图像进行了试验研究.具体地,采用云南天文台1m望远镜观测的CCD图像同时使用这些算法进行了实际测量,根据每幅图像中测得的像素位置,对这三类定心算法进行了比较和精度分析.可视化方法被用于不同阈值的选取和设定比较.实验数据表明,无阈值的二维Gauss拟合方法是一种精度相对较高的定心算法.     

测定天文大气折射和建立电磁波折射延迟实测模型(Ⅴ)-视天顶距测定值的取得

简述了测定瞬时大气折射值以及建立电磁波折射延迟改正模型时,对视天顶距测定值的精度要求和消除系统误差的必要性;根据新的仪器误差理论,文章采取与国外高精度测量仪器的误差测量方法相对比的方式,介绍了专用测量仪器的各种主要误差的测定方法及其所能达到的精度;还介绍了在不同方位的观测时,视频CCD图像中星像的分布情况。     

Stellar CCD Photometry: New Approach Principles and Application

A new approach is proposed and developed to handle pre-processed CCD frames in order to identify stellar images and derive their relevant parameters. The present method relies on: 1) identifying stellar images and assigning approximate positions of their centres using artificial intelligence techniques, 2) accurate determination of the centre coordinates applying an elementary statistical concept and 3) estimating the image peak intensity as a stellar magnitude measure employing a simple numerical analysis approach. The method has been coded for personal computer users. A CCD frame of the star cluster M67 was adopted as a test case. The results obtained are discussed in comparison with the DAOPHOTII ones and the corresponding published data. Exact coincidence has been found between both results except very few cases. These exceptions have been discussed in view of both methods' bases and the cluster plates. It has been realized that the method suggested exhibits very simple, extremely fast and high precise approach in stellar CCD photometry domain. Moreover, it is more capable for handling blended and distorted stellar images than the DAOPHOTII. These characteristics show the usefulness of the present method in some astronomical applications such as auto-focusing and auto-guiding sensing approaches beside the main purpose, viz. stellar photometry. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Precise Determination of the Orientation of the Solar Image

Accurate heliographic coordinates of objects on the Sun have to be known in several fields of solar physics. One of the factors that affect the accuracy of the measurements of the heliographic coordinates is the accuracy of the orientation of a solar image. In this paper the well-known drift method for determining the orientation of the solar image is applied to data taken with a solar telescope equipped with a CCD camera. The factors that influence the accuracy of the method are systematically discussed, and the necessary corrections are determined. These factors are as follows: the trajectory of the center of the solar disk on the CCD with the telescope drive turned off, the astronomical refraction, the change of the declination of the Sun, and the optical distortion of the telescope. The method can be used on any solar telescope that is equipped with a CCD camera and is capable of taking solar full-disk images. As an example to illustrate the method and its application, the orientation of solar images taken with the Gyula heliograph is determined. As a byproduct, a new method to determine the optical distortion of a solar telescope is proposed.     

Concept of High Speed Astronomical Instrumentation Based on Visible Light Photon Counters

The domain of high speed optical astrophysics is still quite unexplored. The availability of 10 meter diameter telescopes offers the unique possibility to investigate variability of faint objects at submillisecond time scales. In this paper I describe the concepts of a photometer and a spectrometer for high speed astronomical observations. The instruments are based on a photon counting detector developed for high energy physics, the Visible Light Photon Counter (VLPC). The detector has a quantum efficiency in the visible as high as 88% and performs photon counting with sub microsecond time resolution. The photometer is built using VLPC arrays. Adding a grating a VLPC array can be used in a time resolved spectrograph with medium resolution. This paper develops, starting from experimental data, the concept of the two VLPC based instruments and their application to time resolved photometry and spectroscopy of compact objects (pulsars, cataclysmic variables, low mass X-ray binary systems etc) and optical counterparts of Gamma Ray Bursts. The high speed optical observations are the ideal complement to X/γ rays and gravitational wave studies. The application of the instruments to the optical photometry of pulsars, the spectrophotometry of the prompt optical flash from Gamma Ray Bursts and the study of binary systems are discussed in detail: in the last two applications the instruments offer better opportunities than existing instruments.     

天文成像数值仿真的相位屏模拟方法

通过利用Monte—Carlo方法对湍流相位屏模拟进行验证和分析。给出加入次谐低频补偿相位屏与直接谱反演相位屏的对比结果,并分析了在考虑内外尺度时次谐低频补偿方法的有效性。此外,给出了基于天文观测的多相位屏的湍流分层模型。在此基础上对天文成像进行数值仿真,并给出了仿真结果。     

PSF-fitting techniques for crowded field 3D spectroscopy

From a historical point of view, it was only through the advent of the CCD as a linear, high dynamic range panoramic detector that it became possible to overcome the source confusion problem for stellar photometry, e.g., in star clusters or nearby galaxies. The ability of accurately sampling the point-spread-function (PSF) in two dimensions and to use it as a template for fitting severely overlapping stellar images is of fundamental importance for crowded-field photometry, and has thus become the foundation for the determination of accurate color-magnitude diagrams of globular clusters and the study of resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies. Analogous to CCDs, the introduction of integral field spectrographs has opened a new avenue for crowded-field 3D spectroscopy, which benefits in the same way from PSF-fitting techniques as CCD photometry does. This paper presents first experience with sampling the PSF in 3D spectroscopy, reviews the effects of atmospheric refraction, discusses background subtraction problems, and presents several science applications as obtained from observations with the PMAS instrument at Calar Alto Observatory.     

RTS2中新CCD类型扩展方法

CCD是天文望远镜中最常见的观测终端设备,也是望远镜自主控制系统中的重要组成部分。随着天文望远镜自主观测需求的不断出现以及技术的快速发展,开源的RTS2软件系统成为目前该领域研究中受到较多关注的系统之一。但RTS2支持的CCD设备较为有限,同时控制接口约定也相对固定。在针对部分特殊的CCD设备(如LAMOST中采用的32台CCD设备、选址用的部分CCD设备)时,仅实现原有类的方法是不够的。在深入分析RTS2源码的基础上,重点从参数、命令、协议扩展方面研究基于原有的Camera类,通过继承的方法构造新的CCD类型,实现对LAMOST项目的 CCD控制,取得了较好的效果,对在RTS2中集成望远镜系统其他类型设备也有较好的参考价值。     

同幅双速跟踪成像CCD相机数字控制器的设计

在介绍了同幅双速跟踪成像CCD相机的工作原理及其对相机数字控制器的要求之后,阐述了该数字控制器的设计思想,基本结构,并给出了仿真及测试结果。针对仿真及测试过程中出现的问题作了较为详细的分析,并提出了解决的方法。通过软件仿真及硬件测试,表明其设计是基本正确的。