SMARTscope

SMARTScope

Simple Multiple Access Remote TeleSCOPE

News Flash:

New Images from the November 3, 2006 Ottawa RASC Meeting!!!
SMARTScope is making the news.
Tweaking the Building, Sat./Sun. .Jul.26/27, 2003
Camera, Focuser and Filter Wheels, Wed. Feb.15, 2003
More News Flashes

The Project:

top

Objectives

SMARTSCOPE is about bringing the night sky to everyone through the Internet.

Here are the objectives of the project, as identified and discussed at our first meeting:

A remotely operated telescope,
with a CCD camera,
designed for deep sky pictures,
with a filter wheel for colours and for the moon.
Public access via the Web,
with trained "key holders" operating while others watch.
An on-line library of pictures.
Available 90% of the time in the Kanata/Ottawa climate.
A published, open architecture.
Easy, low-cost maintenance.
Hardware/software budget of $105,000.
Use and encourage wide participation in the Kanata/Ottawa area.

Key Objectives:

Public education
Real-time operation of the telescope

top

Recognitions

Special thanks for generous donations of time, expertise and funding from:

Bradley Pett
Hugh and Irene Pett
The Ontario Trillium Foundation
Communications Research Centre (C.R.C.)
Friends of C.R.C.
Zoran Real Estate Inc.
City of Kanata
Black Mountain Power
Individual and corporate donors
And the many volunteers who designed, built and manage the project.

top

Please help!

If you can help through donations of time, money, or materials, if you have suggestions for a site to house the telescope, or if you would like to join the SMART Team, please contact:

Chris Teron: chris@teron.ca

top

History

The Simple Multiple Access Remote Telescope (SMARTSCOPE) is a new project undertaken by the Ottawa Centre of the RASC and the City of Kanata. In 1999, two local astronomy enthusiasts independently had the idea to build a remote-controlled telescope accessible via the Internet. Hugh Pett, a resident of Beaverbrook approached the City of Kanata with his idea. Peter Williams made his proposal to the Ottawa Centre of the RASC. Fortunately, the two ideas came together in a single joint project. A team of volunteers is now being organized to specify, design and build this facility. The key objective is to make real astronomy more accessible to the general public.

Keep visiting this site for updates as the project develops and comes on-line.

top

More News Flashes:

Ground Breaking, Thu. Jun. 6, 2002
The Pier Pit, Sun. Jun. 9, 2002
We Have A Swimming Pool, Thu. Jun. 20, 2002
A Very Pouring Day, Mon. Jul. 7, 2002
The Pier Tube, Thu. Jul. 18, 2002
Operation Backfill, Mon. Jul. 29, 2002
The Final Pour, Wed. Jul. 31, 2002
Construction Party, Sat. Aug. 3, 2002
First Light, Tue. Aug. 6, 2002
The Dome Is On!, Wed/Thu. Aug. 7/8, 2002
Secured Building, Sun. Aug. 11, 2002
Stairs and Lights, Tue. Aug. 13, 2002
A Stairway To Heaven, Tue. Sep. 3, 2002
One Saturday Afternoon, Sat. Sep. 7, 2002
A Dedicated Crew, Fri. Sep. 13, 2002
Typical SMARTScope E-mail Exchange, Fri/Sat. Sep. 20/21, 2002
Lookin' Great, Wed. Oct. 2, 2002
The Dome Goes Home, Sun. Oct. 26, 2002
Ready For The Telescope, Tue. Nov. 12, 2002
Captain! The Telescope Is Up, Sun. Dec. 1, 2002
Fine Tuning The Telescope Components, Sun. Dec. 8, 2002
Showing The Stars, Old Fashion Way, At CRC, Tus. Dec.17, 2002

top

This page last modified: November 8, 2006