DUAL-PRO Observatory Station with double telescope and 3m dome
DUAL-PRO is the Observatory Station with double telescope and 3m dome designed to provide a professional level but compact solution that can be used for many applications: remote space exploration, space situational awareness, astrophotography and astronomy education/outreach.
Product Details
DUAL-PRO includes a very high precision and load capacity alt-az mount with heavy pier that supports 2 telescopes in parallel: a wide field telescope and a higher magnification one, both with robotic focusers, ARCO rotators, GIOTTO flat field generators and ALTO telescope cover motors. Every telescope comes with a special camera, this way the user is able to take pictures of the same object at different magnifications.
If you’re interested for your research activity, our design team is able to personalize the DUAL-PRO Observatory Station based on your needs. We can ship the DUAL-PRO Observatory Station all over the World and we can also offer Installation and Training Services at an affordable price.
Main Features
- Large diameter dual telescope: possibility to use telescopes up to 16″ diameter, one with long focal length and one with short focal length
- ESATTO and SESTO SENSO focusing solutions for high precision focusing, even automated
- ARCO rotators to provide camera rotation and automatic field de-rotation
- Two cameras: planetary camera for long focal length telescope, cooled camera for short focal length telescope
- Alt-Az mount with pier for concrete base. Possibility to order it with equatorial pier.
- GIOTTO smart flat field generators to record calibration frames
- ALTO telescope cover motors to use GIOTTO as a remotely controlled motorized cap
- EAGLE computer to remotely control and power all the devices
- 3 meter diameter fully opening dome
- PLAY software to control the entire Observatory Station and capture pictures
DUAL-PRO Observatory Station with double telescope and 3m dome
the most advanced remote control platform
Our optical ground stations are remotely controlled with the included EAGLE computer that runs Windows, so you are free to install the Windows software you prefer to control all the devices of the telescope, based on your application. You can remotely control the Observatory Station through a WiFi or Ethernet connection, even through the Internet. And you can easily add also security cameras, weather stations and UPS backup batteries.
More, our optical ground stations are also already provided with PLAY software specifically designed by PrimaLuceLab to simplify the use of all devices and capture pictures. By using PLAY you can align and point telescope to many targets of the included database, precisely focus camera and rotate it in order to frame your desired object, open or close the telescope motorised cap and dome, set camera acquisition settings and capture sequence of images, capture image calibration files for later post-processing and much more!
DUAL-PRO Observatory Station with double telescope: 3 meter diameter dome
DUAL-PRO Observatory Station comes with 3 meter diameter fully opening dome that is the perfect telescope dome to track satellites, space debris or quick sky surveys, because when in use it completely opens and doesn’t request for the dome shutter to be synchronized with the telescope position. This way the telescope is able to quickly slew not only to astronomical objects but also satellites or space debris. The fast shutter drive allows almost immediate observation and a special feature of the dome is the ability to open only selected shutter, which allows additional protection of the telescope against strong winds. The 3 meter diameter fully opening dome includes motors and remote control electronics.
EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS
- Maximum outer diameter: 326 cm (128.35 inches)
- Maximum outer height: 325 cm (127.95 inches)
- Weight only dome: 950 kg
- Number of shutters: 4
- Drive: 2 electric motors
- Automation: control with PLAY software for Windows, or with third-party software through the provided ASCOM drivers.
- Equipment bay: 88 x 78 x 68 cm (34.65 x 30.71 x 26.77 inches)
- Door: 84 x 84 cm (33.07 x 33.07 inches)
NEED SUPPORT WITH OPTICAL GROUND STATION DESIGN AND DEPLOYMENT?
Designing an optical ground station that is truly operational for space applications requires much more than assembling individual components. It requires a deep understanding of motion control, automation, remote operations, system integration and long-term reliability. Thanks to the PL-GSS approach, the PrimaLuceLab Space Division provides dedicated support for organizations that need to design, deploy or evolve an optical ground segment. Working directly with the engineers who design and develop the Observatory Stations systems, we support customers in defining the architecture of their optical ground station, selecting and integrating mission-specific optical instruments, and ensuring seamless integration with their mission control software.
Our team can assist throughout the entire process, from system design and customization to on-site installation, commissioning and operational training. The result is not a generic observatory, but a mission-driven optical ground station designed to operate as part of a real ground segment, scalable over time and fully under your control. If you are planning to build or evolve an optical ground station for space missions, research or Space Situational Awareness applications, contact the PrimaLuceLab Space Division to start a technical discussion.
