A remote astronomical telescope can be controlled off-site by an observer over the Internet, and is housed in an observatory with an automated system for opening and closing the roof. All systems are mechanical and controlled by computer. The telescope is also capable of being programmed to operate robotically with preset commands with no human interaction.
Piishii Observatory, owned by KAS member Mike Patton and housing the KAS Remote Telescope, is a 20' x 20' observatory featuring an automated motor-driven roll-off roof. It is capable of housing 4 telescopes mounted on piers that are anchored in concrete bases sunk securely into the ground and isolated from the observatory floor. The observatory is located at Arizona Sky Village near the unincorporated community of Portal in Cochise County, Arizona.
The main telescopeBoth the CDK20 and FSQ-106 ride atop a Software Bisque Paramount ME II German equatorial mount. Again, the KAS chose this mount because of its exceptional quality and durability; like a watch, a mount needs to be steady and accurate. It has a very high accuracy in positioning the telescope, is robust enough for our significant equipment load and can position the telescope in a large sweeping arc across the sky. It also is a magnificent shade of gleaming crimson!
Controlling the telescope, as well as transferring the images and data back to southwest Michigan, is accomplished with basic off-the-shelf computer hardware. The software is specialized for use in a remote observatory. It controls all the basic commands for the telescope, including focusing, imaging and guiding and will enable transmitting information from the telescope via the Internet. In addition, it will oversee and control observatory systems such as the roll-off roof mechanism.
About Arizona Sky Village
Arizona Sky Village (ASV) is located 1.75 miles northeast of Portal, Arizona (a town of about 100 people) and 109 miles east-southeast of Tucson. It was founded by noted astrophotographer Jack Newton and developer Gene Turner in 2003. ASV is 450 acres in size and sits in the foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains at the mouth of Cave Creek Canyon. It contains 85 lots and 11 time-share haciendas. In addition to being an excellent site for astronomy, ASV is one of the premiere bird-watching locations in North America.
ASV is 4,545 feet above sea level, ensuring low humidity. The average high temperatures range from 90º F in the summer to 58º F in the winter. Total annual precipitation is only 17.4 inches, most of which is during the monsoon season from mid-June to mid-August. The region boasts at least 300 clear nights a year (compared to only 70 for Michigan). The Coronado National Forest is just west of ASV and is about 1.78 million acres in size. National forest land cannot be developed, so ASV will stay dark for the foreseeable future.
How dark are the night skies above the ASV? According to the Clear Sky Chart light pollution rating, ASV ranks 2 on the Bortle Scale. Phenomena like gegenschein are visible, and the zodiacal lights can be annoyingly bright. The Milky Way casts shadows and clouds look like black holes in the sky. The limiting naked eye magnitude is better than 7.
Piishii Observatory, owned by KAS member Mike Patton and housing the KAS Remote Telescope, is a 20' x 20' observatory featuring an automated motor-driven roll-off roof. It is capable of housing 4 telescopes mounted on piers that are anchored in concrete bases sunk securely into the ground and isolated from the observatory floor. The observatory is located at Arizona Sky Village near the unincorporated community of Portal in Cochise County, Arizona.
The main telescopeBoth the CDK20 and FSQ-106 ride atop a Software Bisque Paramount ME II German equatorial mount. Again, the KAS chose this mount because of its exceptional quality and durability; like a watch, a mount needs to be steady and accurate. It has a very high accuracy in positioning the telescope, is robust enough for our significant equipment load and can position the telescope in a large sweeping arc across the sky. It also is a magnificent shade of gleaming crimson!
Controlling the telescope, as well as transferring the images and data back to southwest Michigan, is accomplished with basic off-the-shelf computer hardware. The software is specialized for use in a remote observatory. It controls all the basic commands for the telescope, including focusing, imaging and guiding and will enable transmitting information from the telescope via the Internet. In addition, it will oversee and control observatory systems such as the roll-off roof mechanism.
About Arizona Sky Village
Arizona Sky Village (ASV) is located 1.75 miles northeast of Portal, Arizona (a town of about 100 people) and 109 miles east-southeast of Tucson. It was founded by noted astrophotographer Jack Newton and developer Gene Turner in 2003. ASV is 450 acres in size and sits in the foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains at the mouth of Cave Creek Canyon. It contains 85 lots and 11 time-share haciendas. In addition to being an excellent site for astronomy, ASV is one of the premiere bird-watching locations in North America.
ASV is 4,545 feet above sea level, ensuring low humidity. The average high temperatures range from 90º F in the summer to 58º F in the winter. Total annual precipitation is only 17.4 inches, most of which is during the monsoon season from mid-June to mid-August. The region boasts at least 300 clear nights a year (compared to only 70 for Michigan). The Coronado National Forest is just west of ASV and is about 1.78 million acres in size. National forest land cannot be developed, so ASV will stay dark for the foreseeable future.
How dark are the night skies above the ASV? According to the Clear Sky Chart light pollution rating, ASV ranks 2 on the Bortle Scale. Phenomena like gegenschein are visible, and the zodiacal lights can be annoyingly bright. The Milky Way casts shadows and clouds look like black holes in the sky. The limiting naked eye magnitude is better than 7.
