Automatic Photoelectric Telescopes: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Saul J. Adehnan, an enthusiastic user and supporter of automatic photoelectric telescopes (APTs), kindly asked me to write about the history of APTs, with a brief mention of their current status and possible future. His instructions were that this was to be written from a personal prospective and need not be an exhaustive review. My only regret is that the diverse roots of APTs as well as their current flowering has been very international in scope, yet my contacts and lmowledge are rather parochial. For this limitation I apologize in advance.