Instruments
NOFS telescopes are completely run (usually in a fully automated manner) through the use of a 'commonized', Python-code-based telescope control system (TCS), which allows astronomers to remotely control and prioritize all telescope operations throughout the observatory's IA-compliant high-speed computer network LAN. Owing to the its susceptibility to lightning strikes atop the mountain, all telescopes and IT systems are also carefully lightning-protected, fully electrically isolated, grounded to an underground earthing network, and protected with lighting arrestors. All domes are of metal design and grounded, in order to provide Faraday cage-type lightning protection for the sensitive instrumentation within. While essential to protect from the severe effects caused by lightning, the Faraday caging only partially protects electronics from man-made EMI/RFI that causes CCD read noise. Dome/Slit 'focusing' of EMI requires distancing EMI sources from the observatory, as has been done at NOFS. As well, a locally designed, automated weather station can robotically close telescope domes using its TCS interface, if it detects inclement weather (or even the damaging smoke from possible wildfire), and protect NOFS telescopes.
Read more about this topic: United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station
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