Operational experience with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI)

Nathaniel M. White; David Mozurkewich; Donald J. Hutter; James A. Benson; Christian A. Hummel; James H. Clark III

doi:10.1117/12.460763

2 January 2002 Operational experience with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI)

Nathaniel M. White, David Mozurkewich, Donald J. Hutter, James A. Benson, Christian A. Hummel, James H. Clark III

Proceedings Volume 4844, Observatory Operations to Optimize Scientific Return III; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460763
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

A review of operational procedures and requirements evolving at the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) provides some useful insights for the automation, maintenance and operation of large optical interferometers even as construction and instrument development continues. Automation is essential for efficient, single operator observing. It is important to integrate ease of operation and maintenance into the instrument design from the start. In final form, the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer, NPOI, will use six portable siderostats for imaging stars and narrow angle astrometry of multiple stars as well as four fixed siderostats designed for all sky astrometry. Currently all four astrometric siderostats and two transportable siderostats are operational. All six beams from the siderostats now in use have been combined coherently to form images of multiple stars at milliseconds of arc resolution.

Citation Download Citation

Nathaniel M. White, David Mozurkewich, Donald J. Hutter, James A. Benson, Christian A. Hummel, and James H. Clark III "Operational experience with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI)", Proc. SPIE 4844, Observatory Operations to Optimize Scientific Return III, (2 January 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460763

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