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"One-Shot" Coronagraph Upgrade (1Dec92)
(from NSO, NOAO Newsletter No. 32, 1 December 1992)

This program involves the addition of a CCD camera while retaining the
original 70 mm film capability of the "One-Shot" Full-Limb Coronagraph
at the NSO/SP Hilltop Dome. The CCD camera control system is now
complete. The system is VME based and includes a 68030 CPU, custom
control and data routing board, 8 Mbytes of additional memory and 1.2
Gbytes of disk storage. The system is linked via Ethernet to a SUN IPC
workstation. The camera is a Videk MEGAPLUS CCD with 1320 x 1035 pixels,
digitized to 8 bits. A 12 MHz fiber-optic data link from the Hilltop
Dome to the observing room is nearly complete and provides lightning
immunity for the system. The CCD camera has been installed on the
coronagraph, and test images and data sequences have been taken. These
data are in the process of being analyzed to determine proper reduction
techniques and further define the observing process. The fiber-optic
link includes an instrument-ready line from the One-Shot controller
allowing interrupt-driven image acquisition.  Hardware for a VME based
controller has been ordered, and engineering work on controller
replacement is underway. The new controller will replace antiquated
equipment and allow communication of telescope parameters and observing
condition information along with each CCD image. The instrument is
operational but will be taking data in a limited mode for the next
several months. Good images have been obtained in H, and "first- light"
images have been obtained in Fe XIV 5303 A.

Roy Coulter, Dick Altrock

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