Abstract: An adapter may be used to couple an imaging device, such as a smartphone, to an optical device such as a telescope. The adapter may have an optical device mounting feature that mounts the adapter to the optical device, an imaging device mounting feature that mounts the imaging device to the adapter, and a positioning mechanism that adjustably positions the imaging device mounting feature relative to the optical device mounting feature. The adapter may also have a joint, distinct from the positioning mechanism, configured to move the optical device mounting feature between a stowed (e.g., “folded”) configuration, in which the optical device mounting feature is positioned alongside the imaging device support surface, and a deployed (e.g., “unfolded”) configuration, in which a camera of the imaging device is positionable, using positioning mechanism, in alignment with the optical device mounting feature with the imaging device mounted on the imaging device mounting feature.

Abstract: An optical device such as a telescope may be oriented to view a subject. In one embodiment, an image capture device may be coupled to the optical device, and used to generate image data of a reference subject. The image data may be used to ascertain a first orientation of the optical device. A second orientation of the optical device, at which the subject is viewable using the optical device, may be ascertained. A rotation of the optical device needed to reorient the optical device from the first orientation to the second orientation may be calculated. Instructions may be outputted to the user, indicating how the user can apply the rotation to the optical device.

Abstract: An adapter may be used to couple an imaging device, such as a smartphone, to an optical device such as a telescope. The adapter may have an optical device mounting feature that mounts the adapter to the optical device, an imaging device mounting feature that mounts the imaging device to the adapter, and a positioning mechanism that adjustably positions the imaging device mounting feature relative to the optical device mounting feature. The optical device mounting feature may have a first arm, a second arm that is movable relative to the first arm to clamp a portion of the optical device between the first arm and the second arm, and a lock that can be actuated to restrict motion of the second arm away from the first arm. The positioning mechanism may be actuatable to move the imaging device, relative to the optical device, along three orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A telescope system may facilitate the capture of images of light, and may have a housing, a primary mirror, a Schmidt corrector plate, and a lens group. The housing may have a mirror end and an aperture end with an entrance aperture that receives the light. The primary mirror may be positioned proximate the mirror end, and may have a spherical shape. The Schmidt corrector plate may be positioned proximate the entrance aperture to direct the light toward the primary mirror in a manner that substantially compensates for the spherical shape. The lens group may include multiple lenses, one or more of which may be positioned within the housing proximate the aperture end such that the light is directed through the lens group by the primary mirror. The lens group may focus the light at a focal location further than the Schmidt corrector plate from the primary mirror.

Abstract: An optical device such as a telescope may be connected to a camera through the use of a camera that acts as a lens cap for the optical system. The optical device may have an eyepiece and a housing within which a lens is retained. The adapter may have a cover portion, a housing attachment feature, an eyepiece attachment feature, and one or more camera attachment features. The cover portion may cover an end of the housing, and may have an imaging aperture. The housing attachment feature may be positioned at a periphery of the cover portion, and may attach the cover portion to the housing. The eyepiece attachment feature may be positioned proximate the imaging aperture to attach the cover portion to the eyepiece. The camera attachment features may facilitate attachment of a camera to the cover portion in alignment with the imaging aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for aligning an optical instrument with respect to a celestial coordinate system, the optical instrument having a field of view and an optical instrument coordinate system, the celestial coordinate system having a plurality of objects each having celestial coordinates. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of captured optical instrument positions in the optical instrument coordinate system along with a plurality of associated capture times; calculating, for each associated capture time in the plurality of associated capture times, coordinates in the optical instrument coordinate system for the plurality of objects to create a plurality of calculated object positions for each associated capture time; and, determining, for each associated capture time, a match for each captured optical instrument position in the plurality of captured optical instrument positions with the plurality of calculated object positions to create a list of actual alignment objects.