Digital Computer Control of a Radio Telescope for Tracking the Sun, Moon, and Planets

Altitude-azimuth mounts, which are often employed on radio telescopes because of their mechanical simplicity, complicate the problem of tracking an astronomical body. Even the fixed stars require nonlinear tracking motions on such a mount, while nearer objects require still more complicated motions. A system has been conceived which, by employing a digital computer and a digital servo, is capable of properly controlling an altitude-azimuth mount. It has been demonstrated that a comparatively small digital computer is adequate for off-line operation by programming such a computer to produce tracking coordinates at 6-secdata-sampling intervals. Studies are currently being conducted on the theory of a suitable digital servo.