TimeBox Shelyak PF0063 time synchronization and timing device

TimeBox Shelyak PF0063 astronomical time synchronization and time keeping device

TimeBox is a device designed to synchronize the time of a PC (or a server) with the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It also allows to know the exact date and time when making digital video recordings, with high accuracy. The TimeBox is designed primarily for precise timing of astronomical phenomena, but can be used for other applications that require accurate dating with an absolute time reference (UTC).

The dating of astronomical occultations and other astronomical phenomena must be performed on an absolute time scale to extract and compare records made by different observers around the world. The time scale of choice is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is the standard time that regulates clocks and time. Stellar occultations are a proven method used to determine the size, shape and position of asteroids, as well as the topology and orbit of satellites. Stellar occultations are also used to improve the astrometry of stars, to produce accurate ephemerides of TNOs, to provide information on the atmospheres of TNOs and planets, and to discover the presence of rings on minor planets in the outer Solar System.

Prior to the advent of the TimeBox, scientists and amateurs used a timing system that wrote UTC time on each frame of an analog video (with Watec cameras and the IOTA-VTI video inserter). This system was validated by the international occultation community (IOTA) and used by hundreds of observers for over ten years. Today, almost all cameras are digital and as analog systems are used less and less these days, they can no longer offer more advanced camera sensors.

The TimeBox is an accurate and portable solution for UTC synchronization with digital cameras, which opens a new era for occultation observations, making use of up-to-date technology and has been validated by the Laboratory for Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics (LESIA) of the Paris Observatory and by a group of experts of the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) and is also used by other professional observatories, amateur astronomy associations and observers in Europe.

The TimeBox is designed to allow accurate dating of astronomical phenomena using digital cameras, collecting UTC time from GPS satellites and inserting UTC time in three different modes:

1. LED firing (Accuracy This mode activates the TimeBox LED to insert UTC time into any video recording. This mode allows the UTC time to be inserted directly into the video stream by lighting an LED every UTC second. It is possible to disable the activation of the 59th second of every minute to facilitate data extraction and analysis.

2. Computer Synchronization (Accuracy ± 2mSec UTC). This mode allows synchronization of the internal PC clock on Windows systems with UTC time. The TimeBox computer synchronization mode allows to accurately synchronize all astronomical phenomena by dating the acquired images to the UTC synchronized time of the PC. The TimeBox computer synchronization mode is accurate (± 2 milliseconds UTC) because the serial port time delay and transmission between TimeBox and the computer is estimated and corrected by an algorithm included in the TimeBox software. In addition, the TimeBox computer synchronization mode can be used to measure PC time drift from UTC time by creating a log containing the PC time and the received UTC time. The TimeBox computer synchronization mode can be operated by synchronizing the PC clock with a single click (once) or by continuously synchronizing its clock from the PC.

3. Trigger (Accuracy ). In this mode the TimeBox triggers cameras with external trigger (Trigger), by emitting a series of logic pulses set in UTC (3v / 6v / 9v) through a BNC port at different frequencies (0.1-1 Hz and 2 -24 Hz). In this mode, the TimeBox is also capable of synchronizing the PC's internal clock to facilitate data reduction and produces a log containing the list and accurate UTC time of each pulse.

• Connections:
  • USB 2.0
  • GPS antenna socket
  • BNC type trigger connection + 12V power socket: outputs a 9V pulse, modifiable to 3V or 6V (requires 12V power supply and BNC cable not supplied).
• Dimensions: L 135 mm x W 80 mm x H 40 mm
• Weight: 220 g

The TimeBox is delivered with a 2m USB 2.0 cable, a GPS antenna with a cable and its connector.

TimeBox Shelyak PF0063 astronomical timekeeping and synchronization device