CATEcor: an Open Science, Shaded-Truss, Externally-Occulted Coronagraph

• Main Authors: DeForest, Craig E, Seaton, Daniel B, Caspi, Amir, Beasley, Matt, Davis, Sarah J, Erickson, Nicholas F, Kovac, Sarah A, Patel, Ritesh, Tosolini, Anna, West, Matthew J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 14-05-2024
• Subjects: Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.08739

Solar Physics, Vol. 299, 78 (23pp); 2024 June 10 We present the design of a portable coronagraph, CATEcor, that incorporates a
novel "shaded truss" style of external occultation and serves as a
proof-of-concept for that family of coronagraphs. The shaded truss design style
has the potential for broad application in various scientific settings. We
conceived CATEcor itself as a simple instrument to observe the corona during
the darker skies available during a partial solar eclipse, or for students or
interested amateurs to detect the corona under ideal non-eclipsed conditions.
CATEcor is therefore optimized for simplicity and accessibility to the public.
It is implemented using an existing dioptric telescope and an adapter rig that
mounts in front of the objective lens, restricting the telescope aperture and
providing external occultation. The adapter rig, including occulter, is
fabricated using fusion deposition modeling (FDM; colloquially "3D printing"),
greatly reducing cost. The structure is designed to be integrated with moderate
care and may be replicated in a university or amateur setting. While CATEcor is
a simple demonstration unit, the design concept, process, and trades are useful
for other more sophisticated coronagraphs in the same general family, which
might operate under normal daytime skies outside the annular-eclipse conditions
used for CATEcor.