SBIR-STTR Award

A fully automatic, fiber-fed astronomical spectrograph that will allow observations to be made at unmanned (automatic) observatories in a highly economical and convenient manner is being designed, developed, and evaluated. The key questions concerning automated astronomical spectroscopy are addressed, and alternative solutions considered. A specific set of solutions are then selected and a preliminary design completed.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: There is a market for fully automatic telescopes and instruments. Many potential customers have asked when a fully automated spectrograph would be available, and have indicated their desire to purchase such instrumentation.

Astronomical spectroscopy, spectrographs, automation a fully automatic, fiber-fed astronomical spectrograph will be designed, developed, and evaluated that will allow observations to be made at unmanned (automatic) observatories in a highly economical and convenient manner. In phase I, the key questions concerning automated astronomical spectroscopy will be addressed, and alternativesolutions will be considered. A specific set of solutions will then be selected and a preliminary design will be completed. In phase II, detailed design of the prototype spectrograph will be completed, the prototype spectrograph will be built, and its performance and utility will be evaluated on a fully automatic telescope by typical astronomical researchers, educators, and students.