ARKYD: A Space Telescope for Everyone

[naskies (Dave)]

I read about this on Slashdot today - a Kickstarter project that aims to build a "space telescope for everyone":

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...f=pripage_home

It sounds like a really great idea. Anyone in the know who can comment on the actual feasibility of this?

[multiweb (Marc)]

Sounds great. Don't know about the time available on this thing, Have you noticed all the people from Branson to students: "Oh I want to take a picture of myself in space."

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Quite small really. I had visions of a small version of Hubble but its just a baby RC ota.
Doesnt give many technical aspects away. Wonder how they power and control. it.?
Must use tiny reaction gyros or something, amazing

[pluto (Hugh)]

Read about this too but couldn't find info on how much observing time one gets on it for the one image, had anyone found more details?

[DJT (David)]

Each observation is 30 minutes of exposure time. But does that include darks and flats??

Space Photographer — $450
Take 3 of your own observations with the ARKYD! Each observation represents up to 30 minutes of exposure time on the space telescope's main optic.
+ (Digital) Space Selfie
+ 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society

Great outreach thing

[CarlJoseph (Carl)]

This kickstarter campaign only launched a few days ago and it's now pushing $500,000 in pledges. If nothing else, it's great that these ventures get some press and get people excited and involved in science - even if it is just getting a photo of a photo of yourself in space.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by DJT

Each observation is 30 minutes of exposure time. But does that include darks and flats??

I've just been reading a bit more about this. Here is an answer from the comments on kickstarter:

"Answering the exposure time question: Each user will be able to specify their desired exposure time for the observation. Answering the calibration frame question: PRI will be performing periodic acquisition of dark frames and bias frames for calibration, as well flat fields using Earth dawn, just like the Hubble Space Telescope. The team will provide a library of this information to our astronomer users for their reference."

They are testing a few different sensors and haven't decided on one yet.
A few specs from the kickstarter page:

Arkyd Space Telescope Specs

• Primary Optic: 200 mm aperture, f/4 primary optic
• Resolving capability: ~ 1 arcsecond
• Detection capability: to visual magnitude 19
• 5 MP+ image sensor
• Wavelength range: 200 nm to 1100 nm
• Available filters: UV bandpass (< 300 nm), B, V, R, OIII, Hα, 1 μm bandpass, Luminence (Clear)
• Active image stabilization

They also mentioned that the FOV will be around 1 degree.

[geektopia (Jason)]

Hi, I'm a backer of the arkyd kickstarter and I'm looking for suggestions for a southern hemisphere institution to donate my 5 minutes of telescope time to.

Any suggestions anyone?

[naskies (Dave)]

Perhaps donating the time to a local primary school, and inspiring some kids about astronomy? The teachers would probably need some support for the content, or make it a show & tell session.

[mr bruess]

hmm interesting.i may donate.How about youse all?

[TrevorW]

They could send up something slightly bigger than an 8" without much weight differential ,why was an 8" chosen

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

They could have sent up something slightly bigger than an 8" without much weight differential why was an 8" chosen

Could be that size is as much a consideration as weight.