Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jan 31, 2006 10:47:00 GMT -6
Augmented reality telescope brings universe closer
A telescope that automatically projects high-quality astronomical images, such as those captured by Hubble, atop those seen through its own eyepiece has been produced by German researchers.
The telescopes' creators, Andrei Lintu and Marcus Magnor, from the Max Plank Institute for Informatics in Saarbrucken, Germany, hope the tool will encourage more first-time observers to become and stay interested in astronomy.
Graduate student Lintu designed the system to overlay high-resolution images onto actual observations to help beginners visualise the structures of faint and distant objects that can otherwise appear as little more than fuzzy blotches on the night sky.
The augmented-reality system combines customised planetarium software, a motorised telescope, a portable computer and a custom-made projection unit. The telescope labels celestial objects in its view and can overlay additional information, including position, brightness and contrast.
Story here: www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8653--augmented-reality-telescope-brings-universe-closer.html
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I am most interested on how this application works. Perhaps it piles on images via ccd and displays them stacked in the eyepiece?