New pixel-level low-cost Polar Star tracking technique and device for the instantaneous evaluation of atmospheric turbulence (seeing)

Abstract

Abstract Atmospheric turbulence (seeing) transforms a telescope star image into a jumbled mess of light. Seeing has been measured for decades with expensive instrumentation (the cheapest portable versions cost ~10 000€). We recovered the 60-yrs old ‘Walker method’ to expose the Pole Star for five minutes and calculate the seeing using a new technique and device (M.BASE.MATE), the full details of which are given in this paper, including the design, data, and codes. Following the frugal science philosophy, we managed to reduce the cost to ~1000€; we further suggest seeing measurements to be made at sites that we have identified in less developed countries. We tested our method for a full year in Madeira, which is (still) one of the great sites in the world without a professional observatory: sub-arc second seeing three-quarters of the time; average seeing below 0.5 arc seconds (twice better than La Palma in the same period). Teaser A new low-cost method for astronomical atmospheric turbulence (seeing) determination is validated at the island of Madeira.