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May 8th, 2010:
"We have had the 16" f3.75
Dream Astrograph running asteroid patrol now for 7 nights using
a 4K X 4K X 9u with the 4" corrector. Our software finds
between a dozen and two dozen new asteroids per night as well
as many, many known objects
(meaning previously discovered but "lost" objects).
The telescope has also
proven itself in the specialized area of asteroid recovery. A
lot of the near Earth asteroids are dim and are not tracked very
much after discovery. Computations give us a probability distribution
telling us where to look to recover such asteroids when they
swing by the Earth again. We use to take many exposures with
the 0.81-m Ritchey (with a 15' X 15' FOV) for this, but the immense
field of view (2.25 sq. degrees) allow us to recapture these
with a single exposure on the 16" Dream Astrograph. This
frees up a lot of time on the Ritchey for other projects.
Those that are looking into a Dream Astrograph for this kind
of work are barking up the right tree." |
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- Michael Schwartz, Tenagra
Observatories, 16" f3.75 Dream
Astrograph owner. |
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May 19th, 2010: 16"
f3.75 Dream Astrograph discovers NEO on 15th night of use
at Tenagra Observatories.
Addional information can be found midway down on Tenagra's web
site.
"On
a nightly basis we discover between a dozen and two dozen unknown
MPs (Minor Planets). These are almost main belt, but the discovery
rate is VERY high. We take 150s exposures, no filter."
- Michael Schwartz, Tenagra Observatories,
16" f3.75 Dream Astrograph owner. |
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June 6th, 2010: Tenagra Observatories
discovers its second NEO object with the 16" f3.75 Dream
Astrograph. The telescope
has been name TESS for; TEnagra Sky Survey. On average it is
discovering 35 new asteroids and about 400 existing asteroids
and/or comets, per
night! |
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October 16th, 2010: Dream
Telescopes owner Shane Santi hired for on-site opto-mechanical
work. |
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