NORTHSTAR OBSERVATORY — Telescope Operations

01 / OBSERVATION WINDOW

TARGET

INSTRUMENT

RITCHEY-CHRÉTIEN 1.8M

PRIMARY / F8.0

WINDOW

22:42 – 01:16

STATE

FILTER

Hα / 6nm

REFERENCE

SEE OBSERVATION / 26-0814-A

02 / INSTRUMENT STATUS

PRIMARY TEMP	−12.4	°C
MIRROR DELTA	+0.3	°C
DOME HUMIDITY	34	%
WIND	8	km/h
TRACKING ERROR	0.18	arcsec
SEEING	1.4	arcsec FWHM

03 / ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE

01

HOME MOUNT

Return azimuth and altitude encoders to reference position

PENDING
02

VERIFY ENCODERS

Confirm encoder counts within ±2 counts of zero

PENDING
03

ACQUIRE REFERENCE

Slew to HD 224427 — magnitude 4.2 / RA 23h 59m

PENDING
04

CORRECT OFFSET

Apply polar alignment correction via WCS fit

PENDING
05

VERIFY TRACK

Confirm tracking error <0.5 arcsec over 300s interval

PENDING
06

RECORD SOLUTION

Log WCS solution and timestamp to observation record

PENDING

04 / FIGURE 07 — OPTICAL PATH

FIG. 07 / RC1.8 OPTICAL SYSTEM — SECTION

INCOMING LIGHT

PRIMARY MIRROR / M1

01 ∅1800mm / ZERODUR

SECONDARY MIRROR / M2

02 ∅280mm / CONVEX HYPERBOLIC

CASSEGRAIN FOCUS

03 F/8.0 / 14400mm EFL

FILTER WHEEL

04 8-POSITION / 50mm SLOTS

CCD DETECTOR

05 4096×4096 / 0.12 arcsec/px

01
PRIMARY MIRROR

02
SECONDARY MIRROR

03
FOCAL PLANE

04
FILTER WHEEL

05
CCD DETECTOR

05 / OBSERVATION RECORD

RECORD	TARGET	START	EXPOSURE	FILTER	STATE	REV
26-0814-A	NGC 7000	22:42	1800s	Hα	ACTIVE	R01
26-0813-C	M42	23:10	600s	OIII	COMPLETE	R03
26-0812-B	NGC 891	21:55	3600s	BVR	COMPLETE	R02
26-0811-A	NGC 2392	22:08	1200s	SII	COMPLETE	R04
26-0809-D	M57	22:30	900s	Hβ	ARCHIVED	R02

06 / FIELD NOTE

NOTE A / OBS 26-0814-A / NGC 7000

Seeing improved significantly after 23:00 local. Hα exposures showing clear filament structure in the Cygnus Wall region — recommend increasing integration time for follow-up run. Guiding stable at 0.18 arcsec rms throughout. Schedule B-filter comparison set for next available window.

DR. K. VALLANCE — NSO STAFF ASTRONOMER — 26-0814 / 23:44 UT

07 / CALIBRATION NOTICE

CAUTION

04.2 / THERMAL TOLERANCE LIMIT

Calibration values are invalid after thermal differential between primary mirror and ambient air exceeds ±2.0°C. If this condition is encountered, suspend science exposures, allow 30-minute thermal soak period, and re-run flat-field sequence before resuming. Do not apply archived calibration frames.

08 / ABOUT THE FACILITY

Northstar Observatory operates from a high-altitude site at 2,840 meters above sea level, selected for exceptional atmospheric stability and low light pollution. The facility supports a dedicated research program in narrow-band nebular imaging and variable star monitoring.

The primary instrument, a 1.8-meter Ritchey-Chrétien reflector, was commissioned in 2018 following a decade of optical development. The telescope operates robotically during approved observation windows, with remote oversight available from partnering institutions. All acquired data enters the public archive 12 months after collection.

NSO operates in partnership with four regional universities. Observing time is allocated by proposal on a semester basis. The facility's technical documentation, instrument calibration records, and observation logs are maintained as part of the operational record and are referenced throughout this interface.