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Leveraging Some Vintage Telescope Technology for Sky Surveillance and FAA FOIA Requests with a Technical Guide

The growing interest in identifying and tracking aerial objects, particularly those classified as unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has inspired individuals and organizations to explore innovative methods for sky surveillance. One practical approach involves adapting motorized telescopes with RS232 ports and USB cameras to track and record moving objects in the sky. Using a Debian Linux-powered laptop, this setup offers a robust and affordable solution for monitoring, documenting and analyzing aerial phenomena. The ultimate goal of such efforts is to provide actionable evidence for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), aiding in the determination of these objects’ origins. The first step in this process involves configuring the telescope’s RS232 port to communicate with the laptop, ensuring…