Telescope Star Searching via Image Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telescopes require bulky and expensive equatorial mounts for error correction and tracking stars, which are not always reliable in ensuring accurate alignment.
Innovation Solution
A telescope star searching method and device based on image recognition that calculates reference and target angles using starry sky images, allowing for rapid adjustment of the telescope's altitude and azimuth angles without the need for initial error calibration, by identifying stars and matching their coordinates with a star database.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If equatorial mount and angle sensors are used for error correction and tracking, then star searching accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical equatorial mount system with an image recognition-based astronomical coordinate system. By photographing stars and identifying their positions in images, the system calculates altitude and azimuth angles through software algorithms rather than mechanical detection, eliminating the need for complex mechanical error correction devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the celestial sphere by photographing stars and mapping their positions to a star database. This virtual model allows the system to calculate telescope pointing angles through image processing and coordinate transformation, replacing physical angle sensors and mechanical tracking systems.
2Measurement precision
If equatorial mount is used for tracking stars, then tracking accuracy is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential off-line issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tracking systems with an image recognition-based method that continuously photographs and identifies stars. This software-based approach eliminates mechanical failure points, providing more reliable tracking through algorithmic coordinate calculation rather than mechanical motion control.
3Measurement precision
If error correction is performed in advance using conventional methods, then initial alignment accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a star database with astronomical coordinates before actual observation. When stars are photographed, the system quickly matches image positions with the pre-prepared database to calculate pointing angles, eliminating time-consuming real-time error correction while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast and accurate star searching without the need for initial error calibration, using image recognition to calculate and adjust the telescope's angles based on the differences between reference and target angles, ensuring precise alignment.
Implementation Method 1
photographing a starry sky image by using an imaging sensor of a telescope
Implementation Method 2
The light passing through the lens is refracted or the light is reflected by the concave mirror to make it enter a small hole and converge for imaging
Implementation Method 3
identifying a star in the photographed starry sky image and matching a right ascension and a declination of the identified star according to a star database
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a telescope star searching method and device based on image recognition and telescope. The method includes: using a telescope to photograph a starry sky image; identifying a star in the starry sky image and matching a right ascension and a declination of the identified star according to a star database; obtaining a first altitude/azimuth angle according to photographing time of the starry sky image, a location of an imaging apparatus at the photographing time, and the right ascension and the declination of the identified star; matching a right ascension and a declination of a target star in the star database; obtaining a second altitude/azimuth angle according to current time, a current location of the imaging apparatus, and the right ascension and the declination of the target star; and adjusting the telescope from the first altitude/azimuth angle to the second altitude/azimuth.