Telescope pointing software for slit spectroscopy of the lunar exosphere

Abstract

Detailed description of the original pointing software used for spectral observations of the lunar exosphere is given. The software allows to point the spectrograph of 2-m telescope of Terskol Observatory inside and outside the lunar disk with accuracy of about 2″. Observations of Na lines in the exosphere of the Moon on January 8 and October 7, 2017, do not reveal quick variability of Na lines at time scales of about 20 minutes. On January 8, 2017, the intensity of Na lines above the south pole of the Moon was stronger than that above the north pole of the Moon.

Keywords

• telescope pointing
• moon
• exosphere
• spectroscopy
• software