Remote Observing System For 2.4m Telescope

As a new 2.4m telescope will be erected at GMG, Lijiang, which is about 600 kilometers northwest of Kunming. The traditional observation mode may not meet the need of observer in full length. Hence, the need for a remote observing system is arising, which could save observing expense and improve observing efficiency.In this paper, we put forward the preliminary design of the remote observing system. Two subsystems of the remote observing system: observing preparation and network-based weather station have completed, and the other subsystems will be completed in the future. Through the observing preparation system, users can search catalogue, generate simulation chart on-line and provide some tools such as generating target list, cross-identification, distance calculation, etc. with the help of the observing preparation system. Through the network-based weather station, users can watch weather, and search weather data on-line in real time.The paper has four parts. In the first chapter, the current background of astronomical research and the current circumstance of data, software, remote observing system and virtual observatory, as well as the new 2.4m telescope are introduced. The preliminary structure of the remote observation system and the design of every subsystem are explained in detail in the second chapter. In the third chapter, results of the completed two subsystems are shown, and the issue about security of the system and network are discussed, too. The last part outlined the future work briefly.Development of the remote observing system for the 2.4m telescope is underway. Meanwhile, the remote observation will be merged into virtual observatory.