Abstract: A lens assembly for a weapon sight includes a first lens having an optical axis and a focal plane array (FPA) coaxial with the optical axis of the first lens. A first parameter of the first lens is selected that minimizes an error in image shift when the weapon sight lens assembly is adjusted for focus. The first parameter of the first lens can be at least one of a lateral position, axial displacement, thickness, effective focal length, material, effective focal length, radius of curvature, conic constants, and higher order aspheric coefficients of the first lens. A sensor can detect a position of the lens and a processor can compare the measured position to an ideal position and use a lookup table to display a corrected reticle position or corrected scene. An actuator may move the lens to the ideal position from the measured position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A mounting bracket adapted for securing to photographic and video equipment. The bracket having a general L-shape formed from a coupling of a base portion and a bracket portion. The bracket portion and base portion coupling is generally movable in a slidable and hinged configuration, wherein the bracket portion is adapted to move and tilt outward from attached equipment relative to the base portion. The base portion including a deployable attachment member that is generally movable from a retained position to a deployed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a long-range optical device (1) with an observation beam path (8) and a graticule for aiming at a target, and with a laser rangefinder (15), wherein a transmitting beam path of a laser transmitter (16) runs at least partly in the observation beam path (8), and wherein in an objective housing (63) a joint is arranged and at least one lens of the objective (31) is mounted to be movable by means of the joint in the objective housing (63), and wherein the joint comprises a bearing housing (66) fixed in the objective housing (63) and a lens tube (64), and at an object-side end of the lens tube (64) a front objective lens system (61) of the objective (31) is arranged and an eyepiece side end of the lens tube (64) is mounted pivotably in the bearing housing (66).

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a light source, a first mirror, a second mirror, and a support structure. The light source provides light energy along an optical path extending along an optical axis. The first mirror receives and re-directs the light energy from the light source, and pivots about an azimuth axis. The second mirror receives the re-directed light energy from the first mirror and to re-direct the light energy toward a target through a window. The support structure has a first end and a second end. The first end is mounted at a support rotation point, with the support structure rotating about the support rotation point as the first mirror pivots about the azimuth axis. The second mirror is mounted to the second end of the support structure.

Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes: an objective optical system having a function of imaging a subject as a real image or a virtual image; and plural imaging optical systems that image plural subject luminous fluxes output from different paths of the objective optical system again as parallax images using plural independent optical systems, wherein, in the case where a focal length value when the objective optical system images the subject as the real image is positive and the focal length value when the objective optical system images the subject as the virtual image is negative, a focal distance (f) of the objective optical system and a distance (L) from a rear principal point of the objective optical system to a front principal point of the imaging optical system is set to values that satisfy the following equation |f/(L?f)|?1.

Abstract: A turret system for use with a firearm scope is provided, wherein the turret system comprises a plurality of turrets connected in an interlocked and telescoping orientation. The system may include a first turret having a hollow body and a second turret that may be at least partially received within the hollow body of the first turret. The first turret can be selectively axially movable relative to the second turret such that the second turret may be at least partially exposed when the first turret is in a raised position and the second turret may be substantially covered when the first turret is in a lowered position. The first turret may include a first set of calibration data thereon tailored to a first set of shooting conditions and the second turret may include a second set of calibration data thereon tailored to a second set of shooting conditions.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for displaying and managing relationships between data elements of a database, including, without limitation, relationships between data elements representing or associated with members of a social network in a social network database. In one or more embodiments, attributes or values of data elements of a database are interpreted as unique locations in a multidimensional environment. Data elements are graphically displayed from the perspective of a point within the multidimensional environment. Attributes and relationships between data elements are displayed by visual characteristics of the displayed data elements (e.g. location, color, shape, animation) and by graphical elements connecting related displayed elements (e.g. similar colors, shapes, or connecting lines or areas).

Abstract: An aiming device includes a set of lenses disposed along an optical path, the set of lenses including an objective lens and an ocular lens. A reflective element is disposed on the optical path between the objective lens and the ocular lens. An addressable display is located off the optical path and projects an image to the reflective element. The image is viewable through the ocular lens and is an aiming element superimposed on a field of view.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustment turret comprising a base, a rotary control element, which can be rotated relative to the base about an axis of rotation, a display element, which can be rotated about the axis of rotation, and a mechanical coupling mechanism coupling the rotary control element together with the display element, the mechanical coupling mechanism being configured such that the display element can be rotated about the axis of rotation by the rotary control element into at least one rotational position of the rotary control element, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured such that during a full rotation of the rotary control element about the axis of rotation the display element can be rotated by the rotary control element relative to the base only about an angle of rotation which corresponds to part of a full rotation.

Abstract: An optical device forms a beam path between an optical end element at a beam path end and an object scene into which the beam path is directed via a field of view of the end element. The optical device contains an alignment device for pivoting the field of view relative to a predetermined direction, an end optical unit and an optical articulation for guiding the beam path from the pivoted field of view into the end optical unit. In order to achieve good shielding against spurious radiation, the device has a shielding unit containing a shielding element led partly around the optical articulation, which shielding unit shields the optical articulation against incident radiation that is not incident through the entrance or exit aperture of the optical articulation.

Abstract: An adjustment tower for telescopic sights includes a first adjustment device and a second adjustment device, which are capable of rotating independently of one another relative to a base. The first adjustment device can be rotated in an adjustment position and has a secured position in which it is secured against rotation. The first adjustment device is also axially movable relative to the base to a limited extent such that in the adjustment position, the adjustment device projects further out of the second adjustment device than in the secured position. The tower further includes a stored-energy device that exerts an axial force on the first adjustment device from the secured position in the direction of the adjustment position.

Abstract: A viewing device synchronizer includes a viewing mechanism for viewing an object and a linking mechanism for linking a plurality of viewing mechanisms so that each is capable of viewing the object simultaneously. A movement mechanism moves a single viewing mechanism in any direction in order to view an object. A control mechanism moves any of the plurality of viewing mechanisms if the single viewing mechanism is moved. A directional pointing mechanism controls one or a plurality of the viewing mechanisms. A communication mechanism sends directional information for controlling the operation of the plurality of viewing mechanism from a single viewing mechanism.

Abstract: Telescopic sights commonly include a reticle which is laterally moved to adjust for the point of aim. In this invention, a prismatic device is used to move the image of the target on the reticle. In one embodiment, a pair of prisms are placed in the optical path of a telescopic sight such that at least one prism is movable along the optical axis. The point of aim is adjusted by adjusting the distance between the two prisms. By replacing the lateral movement of the reticle with the longitudinal movement of a prism, this invention eliminates several drawbacks associated with the prior art including limitations in the adjustment range.

Abstract: A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.

Abstract: An alt-az mount for supporting and orienting optical instruments comprises: a generally horizontally extending arm couple to a level surface by an azimuthal pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the horizontally extending arm with respect to the level surface about a vertical azimuthal axis; a generally vertically extending arm pivotally coupled to the horizontally extending arm by an inter-arm pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the vertically extending arm with respect to the horizontally extending arm about a vertical inter-arm axis; and an instrument coupling mechanism for coupling the mount to an optical instrument, the instrument coupling mechanism comprising an altitude pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the optical instrument with respect to the vertically extending arm about a horizontal altitude axis.

Abstract: A closed-loop telescope control system is disclosed that greatly improves the accuracy of telescope operation. Using image information collected by sensors mounted on the telescope, a control system can improve pointing accuracy by observing the actual position of a selected object and making minute pointing corrections. Tracking accuracy is greatly improved using image information to directly control servo motor operation by a telescope control. Additional automated features are possible by the closed-loop capacity of the disclosure to improve the efficiency of a telescope system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopic sight with an objective to face a target object to be observed in a working position, an eyepiece to face an observer, a visual observation beam path, an inner tube with an inversion system, means for adjusting the direction of the sight line of the telescopic sight, a rangefinder and with a scope housing, in which are integrated the rangefinder, which has a transmitter for emitting a measurement beam and a receiver for receiving the reflected measurement beam, and arranged in the region of the observation beam path a beam splitter element, which couples the emitted measurement beam into the part of the observation beam path extending toward the objective and/or decouples the received reflected measurement beam from the part of the observation beam path extending toward the objective.

Abstract: A system with a calibrated rotary encoder can be used for accurate telescope tracking along the Right Ascension (RA) rotation axis. The system includes an incremental quadrature optical encoder, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a timer, an electronic memory, and a control interface. The rotor of the encoder is coaxially attached to the RA drive shaft of the telescope mount in order to send angular position data for the RA drive shaft to the MCU. The MCU evaluates the angular position data for errors and send corrections to the control mechanism of the RA drive shaft. The electronic memory stores calibrated reference data, which is compared to the angular position data by the MCU. The calibrated reference data can be found by measuring the movement of a reference star across an image. The system can also calculate an accurate visible speed for the Earth's rotation in a desired direction.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a telescope is automatically aligned without requiring user intervention and without requiring knowledge of actual local time or location. A mount model specifying a relationship between a telescope's internal coordinate system and a celestial coordinate system is generated using an arbitrary time, arbitrary telescope location, and a number of alignment reference points. A pointing error for the initial mount model is determined, for example using a plate solving technique to translate between plate coordinates and celestial coordinates for the alignment reference points. Time and location values are iteratively adjusted to reduce the pointing error until it is acceptably low. In one embodiment, adjustments are made by reference to a local sidereal time (LST) offset and/or a latitude value. In one embodiment, the iterative adjustment is performed using a two-phase methodology, including a coarse adjustment followed by a fine adjustment.

Abstract: An optical sight of the present invention may aim at an object via a cross. The optical sight has a focusing adjuster for focusing and a brightness adjuster for adjusting luminance on a cross. The focusing adjuster and the brightness adjuster are made at the same position that user may operate the optical sight more conveniently.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with an improved optical architecture. An optical telescope having a longitudinal axis is configured to allow a beam having a first wavelength to laterally transverse a telescope barrel along a first axis. An optical module directs and corrects the beam from the first axis to a second and third axis, and to a beam expander. The beam expander transmits a beam having a second wavelength through the optical telescope along the longitudinal axis. The optical architecture may be incorporated onto an on-gimbal component that is side-mounted to a gimbaled system, as a method of minimizing the operational burdens on the gimbaled system.

Abstract: A plate solving methodology determines celestial coordinates of an image. Star locations are extracted from the image in terms of pixel coordinates. A group of four stars, referred to as a “test quad”, is identified. A signature for the test quad is generated. In one embodiment, this test signature is derived by determining the separations of the four stars in the test quad, normalized by the largest separation. In one embodiment, the signature also includes the sum of these normalized separations. A query is performed, using the generated signature, against a database of reference signatures for known groups of stars (referred to as “reference quads”). A geometric transform is determined, establishing the relationship between the test quad and a reference quad that matches within a specified tolerance. This geometric transform defines the celestial coordinates of the image. Additional verification steps can be performed to confirm the accuracy of the match.

Abstract: Rifle scopes with adjustment stops include a scope body, a movable optical element defining an optical axis enclosed by the scope body, and a turret having a screw operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis in response to rotation of the screw. The turret has a stop element selectably engaged to the screw. The body defines a stop surface positioned for engagement by the turret stop element to limit rotation of the screw, such that the relative position at which the stop element is secured to the screw defines a zero position of the screw and the movable optical element. The stop element is held against the stop surface by an indexing portion while the relative position at which the stop element is secured to the screw to define the zero position is determined.

Abstract: A combined reflex/telescopic sight that includes a telescopic optical element train and a view window, offset from the optical element train. A transition assembly is positioned to receive light from the optical element train and the view window and has an image display, a collimating lens-set positioned to transmit light to the image display and a luminous reticle. This assembly may be placed in a first mode wherein light from the optical train travels through the collimating lenses to the image display and light from the view window is blocked. In a second mode light from the optical train is blocked and light from the luminous reticle travels through the collimating lens set and is combined with light from the view window and a resulting combined image appears at the image display. Finally an actuation assembly is adapted to permit a user to switch the transition assembly between modes.

Abstract: An actuator capable of attaining two-dimensional positioning with a simple configuration includes an electromechanical transducer 11 which makes mechanical displacement in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, a driving shaft 12 which is axially displaced and inclined by the mechanical displacement of the electromechanical transducer 11, a movable member 13 which frictionally engages on the driving shaft 12, and a driving circuit for superposing a direct-current driving voltage leading to an inclination of the driving shaft 12 at a desired angle at a low rate of change preventing slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and an alternating driving voltage for causing axial vibrations of the driving shaft 12 so as to cause slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and applying the superposed voltages to the electromechanical transducer 11.

Abstract: A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.

Abstract: Rifle scopes with adjustment stops include a scope body, a movable optical element defining an optical axis enclosed by the scope body, and a turret having a screw operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis in response to rotation of the screw. The turret has a stop element selectably engaged to the screw. The body defines a stop surface positioned for engagement by the turret stop element to limit rotation of the screw, such that the relative position at which the stop element is secured to the screw defines a zero position of the screw and the movable optical element. The stop element is held against the stop surface by an indexing portion while the relative position at which the stop element is secured to the screw to define the zero position is determined.

Abstract: An alt-az mount for supporting and orienting optical instruments comprises: a generally horizontally extending arm coupleable to a level surface by an azimuthal pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the horizontally extending arm with respect to the level surface about a vertical azimuthal axis; a generally vertically extending arm pivotally coupled to the horizontally extending arm by an inter-arm pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the vertically extending arm with respect to the horizontally extending arm about a vertical inter-arm axis; and an instrument coupling mechanism for coupling the mount to an optical instrument, the instrument coupling mechanism comprising an altitude pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the optical instrument with respect to the vertically extending arm about a horizontal altitude axis.

Abstract: A portable telescope that takes advantage of an offset optical pathway between the objective tube and eyepiece tube that allows adjustment of the eyepiece height independent of the objective tube elevation. A user-friendly, motorized, interactive, self-calibrating portable telescope with an offset optical path.

Abstract: A digitally controlled platform for precise celestial tracking of astronomical telescopes, generally those having an independent pointing mechanism. A movable stage carrying the telescope is moved relative to a base by three digitally controlled actuators each of which determines the distance between a point fixed in the base and a point fixed stage. The base and stage otherwise are connected by a mechanism that holds a single point fixed in the base in coincidence with a single point fixed in the stage. It functions without approximation at any digitally specified latitude and longitude, enabling astrophotography with alt/azimuth mounted telescopes and diurnal tracking through the zenith. The digital controller may be a personal computer laptop running a multitasking operating system linked to the platform electronics by a Universal Serial Bus cable. Novel software design allows precise tracking, control, and calibration in spite of operating system and Universal Serial Bus latency.

Abstract: A low orbit optical imaging satellite has a long thin satellite body housing an optical telescope arrangement. A major part of the telescope arrangement has its optical axis roughly parallel to the direction of elongation and includes a mirror arrangement deployed to direct a line of sight of the optical telescope out sideways from the direction of elongation. The transverse dimensions of the satellite body are preferably minimized to be close to the optical aperture dimension of the optical telescope, thereby providing a high ballistic coefficient and high orbit lifetime for orbits in the low thermosphere.

Abstract: Rifle scopes with friction reducing elements include a scope body, a movable optical adjustment element connected to the scope body, and a turret rotatably connected to the scope body. The turret includes a contact element contacting the adjustment element at a location of contact. The contact element is rotatable with respect to the turret. The adjustment element at the location of contact differs in hardness from the hardness of a second portion of the adjustment element. The contact element at the location of contact and the adjustment element at the location of contact are of essentially equal hardness.

Abstract: An off-axis reflective transmit telescope for a DIRCM system is mounted on the gimbal along a transmit-axis offset laterally from the optical axis of the receive telescope but nominally aligned with the line-of-sight of the receive telescope to transmit a laser beam. The telescope comprises an optical port optically coupled to a laser to receive and direct the laser beam away from the dome and a reflective optical assembly that reflects the laser beam through the dome. The reflective optical assembly comprises an off-axis mirror segment and a second optical element that together precompensate the laser beam for dome aberrations induced by the lateral offset of the transmit telescope's transmit axis from the optical axis. The off-axis mirror segment comprises a segment of a parent mirror having an aspheric curvature (e.g. parabolic, elliptical or higher-order asphere) about an axis of symmetry. The segment is offset so that it is not centered on the axis of symmetry of the parent mirror.

Abstract: A system and method for telescope guiding requires creating an artificial reference star which is locked to the line of sight of the imaging means of a main telescope in the field-of-view (FOV) of a guide scope. A real guide star is selected using the guide scope, such that both artificial and guide stars are within the FOV of the guide scope. Guiding is accomplished by varying the line of sight such that the positional displacement between the guide and artificial stars on the guide star's focal plane is maintained approximately constant. The artificial star is created by generating a point source of light near the main scope's imaging means, directing the light outside the main scope and retroreflecting it at the same direction angle of the beam exiting the aperture into the guide scope, effectively locking the guide scope to the line of sight of the imaging means.

Abstract: A space telescope having a primary mirror for focusing and reflecting electromagnetic radiation, multiple secondary mirrors and, optionally, multiple tertiary mirrors, for receiving the focused and reflected electromagnetic radiation from the primary mirror and reflecting the electromagnetic radiation, and multiple focal plane arrays for receiving the focused and reflected electromagnetic radiation from the secondary mirrors or tertiary mirrors. The use of a multiple secondary mirrors and multiple focal plane arrays allows the telescope to observe multiple fields of regard simultaneously in selected celestial regions or on an orbited celestial body, such as the Earth.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention relates to a mount (1) for a telescope (5). The mount comprises: a basement (2) with a fixed portion (3) and a pivoting portion (4); a first rocking structure (7), mounted to the basement, which rotates by 90° on a plane perpendicular to the basement; a second rocking structure (8), mounted to the first structure, which defines an axis AR and rotates by 180° about AR; a polar telescope (12), mounted to the second structure, with the optical axis aligned with AR; rotating joints (13), mounted to the second structure, defining an axis D incident and perpendicular to AR; a hose clamp (14), mounted to the rotating joints, and defining a housing for a telescope; a finder telescope (15), mounted to the rotating joints or clamp, with the optical axis Xc being aligned with the housing defined by the clamp. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for the precise polar position of a telescope supported by this mount.

Abstract: In the subject three-axis pointing system, the elevation and tip mirror axes are permanently mounted with their rotation axes orthogonal to each other to eliminate gimbal lock over the hemisphere, to avoid high accelerations as the zenith or nadir pointing directions are approached, and to provide optimal two-axis beam pointing control.

Abstract: A weapon sight of the kind comprising a lens having a partially reflecting surface, a light source spaced from the lens for emitting light towards the reflecting surface to produce a light spot by direct imaging of the light source on the surface to be superimposed on a target when sighting through the lens. For adjustment of the location of the light spot on the reflecting surface when observed from a defined fixed position, the sight includes a device for displacement of the light source, comprising a miniature drive motor or element operatively connected with the light source.

Abstract: An altazimuth and elevation tracking control for adjusting the azimuth and elevation on an altazimuth telescope mount is provided. The tracking control has an azimuth motor drive assembly which includes a tension mounting plate, a wire spring member, and at least two capstan driving motors for rotating a circumferential edge of the ground board of the telescope mount. As elevation tracking control assembly may be provided which includes a motor drive assembly having a horizontal mounting bracket for attachment to a vertical sidewall of the telescope mount including outwardly extending flanges, each including a plain bearing, a longitudinally extending spiral drive bar has a first end rotatably connected to the first flange plain bearing and a second end, and a drive motor having a coupling shaft. The drive motor is connected to the mounting bracket so that the coupling shaft extends inwardly through the second flange plain bearing in axial alignment with the drive bar.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide for a computer implemented method, computer readable medium, and data processing system for adjusting a perceived image seen through an optical observation device. The azimuth-elevation-rotation of the optical observation device is measured relative to an observer. The field of view observed through the observation device appears with at least one of rotated and inverted optical translation relative to observation of the object with an unaided eye of the observer. Based on the celestial coordinate system inherent in the design of the mounting of the optical observation device, moving optical observation device in the optical translation direction, wherein the field of view moves in the optical view direction, and wherein the celestial coordinate system is selected from a group consisting of an equatorial coordinate system and an azimuth-elevation coordinate system.

Abstract: A compact spotting scope includes a housing with an outer surface having a grasping region sized and shaped to fit in a user's hand. An optical element positioned within the housing is adjusted by manually rotating a side-mounted adjustment knob that extends laterally from the outer surface of the housing opposite the grasping region. The side-mounted position of the adjustment knob allows the arm and wrist of the focusing hand to be maintained in an ergonomic position during manipulation of the adjustment knob, thereby further facilitating steady support. An internal support member of the spotting scope includes a frame portion and a generally tubular portion, which are preferably formed together of unitary one-piece construction for aligning optical elements of the spotting scope.

Abstract: A sight includes a housing with first and second openings, and includes an optics section that is disposed within the housing, that has image erecting optics and eyepiece optics, and that optically influences radiation received through the first opening from a scene, so as to deliver through the second opening a viewable image that is a function of the radiation. An adjusting section facilitates adjustment of the position of the image erecting optics and the eyepiece optics within the housing.

Abstract: A highly precision, super stable, structure compact and fully lockable ball joint mechanism optical mounts are presented. Both stationary plate and movable plate have a partial-spherical hole or conical hole. Facing spacing aligns the bases of the partial-spherical holes or conical holes; a space adjustable cavity is formed. An external-spherical circumference shape optical element carrier plate fits and mates in the space adjustable combined cavity forms a ball joint mechanism, or an external-column circumference and edges chamfered optical element carrier plate fits and mates in the space adjustable combined internal-spherical shaped cavity forms an angle tilt-able and around axis swivel-able joint pair mechanism. A removable tooling for exporting a tilting and rotating movement to the optical element carrier plate are presented. Locking ring pushes the movable plate to adjust the combined cavity and locking the optical element carrier plate and to lock optical element that is carried thereby.

Abstract: An aiming telescope has an optical axis and a line of sight. Turrets are provided for adjusting the direction of the line of sight. A range finder is structurally connected with the aiming telescope. The range finder has a light source for emitting an emitted measuring beam. The emitted measuring beam runs outside the aiming telescope. It has a direction coinciding essentially with the direction of the line of sight. A transmission is provided for automatically adjusting the direction of the emitted measuring beam when the direction of the line of sight is adjusted. The light source is pivotably mounted on the aiming telescope. The transmission acts between the aiming telescope and the light source.

Abstract: A low orbit optical imaging satellite has a long thin satellite body housing an optical telescope arrangement. A major part of the telescope arrangement has its optical axis roughly parallel to the direction of elongation and includes a mirror arrangement deployed to direct a line of sight of the optical telescope out sideways from the direction of elongation. The transverse dimensions of the satellite body are preferably minimized to be close to the optical aperture dimension of the optical telescope, thereby providing a high ballistic coefficient and high orbit lifetime for orbits in the low thermosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for astronomical activity monitoring and imaging using a plurality of distributed remotely-reprogrammable observing devices communicating with a server, and providing astronomical activity monitoring and imaging information. In one embodiment the observing devices may also have sensors coupled to provide atmospheric data that further characterizes the astronomical activity monitoring and imaging information. Furthermore, remote reprogramming of observing device by broadcast data transmitted by a satellite is provided.

Abstract: A telescope mount with a fixed vertical axis of rotation, a fixed horizontal axis of rotation, and a variable axis of rotation. The mount allows a side aperture telescope to simultaneously rotate horizontally and vertically while also allowing the telescope to be tilted up and down.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical device comprises a telescope and a pipescope arranged as a spatial filter to light propagated through the telescope, to confine a field of view to ?DL.

Abstract: A sight includes a housing with first and second openings, and includes an optics section that is disposed within the housing, that has image erecting optics and eyepiece optics, and that optically influences radiation received through the first opening from a scene, so as to deliver through the second opening a viewable image that is a function of the radiation. An adjusting section facilitates adjustment of the position of the image erecting optics and the eyepiece optics within the housing.