Automating the observatory a journey that started 3 years ago. Miquel Casas 5/4/2012

Transcription

1 Automating the observatory a journey that started 3 years ago Miquel Casas 5/4/2012

2 Level Setting about observatory Feedback on 03/09/11 at 08:03am West McDonald wrote about observatory: I think my favorite part of these [observatory] pictures is the fact that it all LOOKS crummy. And before you think I'm insulting you, good sir, know that I'm not. I am new to astronomy *I just picked up a 10" Dobby last night and have yet to take it out*. I understand the concepts and terminology... and I've researched enough to consider myself "good to go"... but what I see in these photos is art. So many people think that because they have "the best stuff" that they are in a better position than anyone else. What I see in these photos is a man who knows what needs to be done and does it. I see it all the time with bowlers... A guy comes up with a bag with his own ball, wrist brace, towel, shoes... and so on. To me this tells me he needs his equipment to do the work for him. These pictures indicates otherwise. Kudos to you, sir. Well played. If you thought you were going to see the pretty observatory, you ll be disappointed. Now, let s get ready to see lots of duct tape

3 Observatory Location (Bortle 8)

4 A little history on my 1 st year but I did not want to be carrying the AP equipment in & out of the basement approximate time to setup min. in a good day

5 Craigslist contractor builds storage shed in 1 day (prettiness set by Ana s specifications) Air circulation is your friend 8x10 feet I get a scope buggy which later sold to Neil. I mark the telescope position with 3 buried bricks In the grass to speed up polar alignment. Grids all around the bottom to help with air circulation. You can shut the grids from inside in heavy rainy days. Gravel all around the observatory to lower humidity then, roll off, polar alignment, alignment points, focusing, guiding routine, cold, humidity approximate time to set up 45 min. later in a good day), but clouds roll in time to pack! I think I should do a permanent observatory

6 Can I retrofit a shed to an Roll-off-Roof, Kevin? Kevin: never done it, but I m sure we can cut the roof here is your best new friend Tip: Measure twice before you cut

7 a few days later & still needed to look pretty Spring-loaded hinges

8 Pulling out & Pulling in keeping the tension Outside Right side Inside Right side Notice stopper cable behind spring. Spring keeps tension on the cable, and Stopper cable, stops the spring from rolling Into the Liftmaster drums. Liftmaster lbs

9 more details about pulling mechanism

10 Ta Da moment liipfm0?feat=directlink

11 How do I make a install a permanent pier, dad? Dad: Well, you dig a hole let me send you some sketches

12 What kind of telescope pier? CN Pier Design Fundamentals: Dad s underpinning sketch then Miquel s sketch

13 a steel artist & close to 400 pounds of steel later another Ta Da moment Dan s Pier Top Plate for Sirius Mount

14 Now, let s dig a hole First, cut the floor This straight line going across The circle points to NCP Second, dig the hole

15 Peter, can you help me to fill in a hole? Peter: umm! I think we re going to need a lot of concrete about 800lbs of concrete & 4 guys to lift it & place it on the concrete

16 more cutting for power & Ethernet about 10 feet long of reinforce concrete slab

17 Aerial view On my 2 nd year ISO = 800 Mount = HEQ5 Pro (Aka Sirius) Main Telescope = Mak 150 FL=1800 Main Imaging Camera = Canon 40DH Autoguiding = ST80 + SSAG + PHD (Issues with USB) The observatory is surrounded (360 degree) by tall houses that provide protection from the wind & I have agreement with the neighbors to watch for flood lights when I m imaging in exchange for Astrophotography tours for parents & kids everybody is very nice! but it s still hard, as I m getting good nights on Sunday night right before I have to wake up next day at 6am to go to work

18 Disaster Strikes + = + 5:15AM

19 Damage? 3 months drying optics & some wasted electronic equipment 6 months of psychological damage To be or not to be

20 I decided: To Be Automation kicks in Water Protection Modified Water Bug (Binary-mindset requirement: It actuates independent of a computer) + + ($50) X10 Powerflash relay. Detects alarm signal & sends X10 code to another device Hacking the Liftmaster Smart Control Panel with X10 Universal Module (AKA Relay Short Pulse ) + X10 Universal Module Relay. Detects alarm signal & trips two contacts

21 more automation Power protection: Power-out sensor Notice manual lock for long periods of standby. There is one on each side. + X10 Powerflash relay. Detects alarm signal & sends X10 code to another device All sensors & relays run on Backup-UPS ES 650 excluding the Power-out sensor which runs on surge protection only. The LiftMaster gets its own dedicated back-up system, so it can close the roof when there is no power

22 Crummy looks but effective Dew heater liquefies Snow & evaporates humidity Water-bug sensor X10 Powerflash relay for Power-out sensor X10 Powerflash relay for Water-bug sensor X10 Universal Module which actuates roof based on X10 Powerflash signals & they only work when the roof is open Wood panel protects the whole thing from rain Red Led Indicates Roof is open Red Led Indicates Water-sensor had detected water Back-up system System Testing Scripts Water-bug panel Power-out sensor

23 How do the system knows when the roof is open? NC and NO Magnetic switches do the trick

24 Opening the roof remotely It s possible to trigger the Universal Module that controls the opening of the roof It takes 3 steps: 1. You need to power-up computer observatory (Windows 7) by switching on CPS N-AC2 power switch (web password protected) 2. Then, you need to power-up the line to the Universal Module through the CPS N-AC2 (web password protected) 3. Then, you need to double click on the Open Roof from Windows 7 desktop (Windows Remote Desktop Password Protected) which sends a signal to the X10 Home Control device which sends a signal to the Power Module. You can do everything remotely if you have the passwords. Step 1 & 2. N-AC2 Ethernet Power Switch Step 3. Universal Module that Controls Open Roof only works when roof is closed Step 3. Universal Module that Controls Roof Open only works when roof is closed

25 Telescope System WO Super Lomo 380mm + QHY9M with automated focusing Orion Mak 1800mm + QHY8C With automated focusing ST80 + SSAG Telescope Pier & top based wrapped in black Leather fabric to protect from rain System seats covered during rainy season or when I m not using often

26 Close-ups of telescopes

27 Crummy Looks but powerful observatory Computer Intel Core i7 64-bit Extreme edition with Windows Ultimate easily manages the USB connections. It also does all the processing. Also, 3 dedicated long USB lines cables with 3 separate small USB hubs solve the months of USB hell 10 USB connections (3 USB cameras, 2 FCUSB focusers, 1 USB EQMod-Mount, 1 USB X10, 1 USB mouse, 1 USB keyboard, 1 USB monitoring camera) Computer observatory runs on powerful back-up system too Remote camera monitor movement of telescope system & I can turn on light remotely Central alarm system Crummy but effective plywood sheet protects system from accidental rain

28 System Maintenance every 6 months Pempro for Polar alignment produces very accurate alignment. RMS ranges between 0.1 & 0.3 Pempro for PEC curve creaton PEC Curve is loaded into EQMOD Automation of flats creation through MaximDL Sky Flats Assistant Plug-in

29 Other software Skytools 3 Pro Edition for Planning Pixinsight 64-bit edition for processing

30 Software Automation takes pictures while I m sleeping any day of the week CCDCommander Automation of focusing focusmax Automation of Plate-solving through Maxim/PinPoint Automation of Goto s through Sky6 Automation of autoguiding Automation of imaging session through MaximDL Switching filters Adquision etc Also, if it loses guiding star for more than 2 minutes (i.e. clouds), it ll park the scopes & close the roof Automation of meridian flip, plate-solving, focusing & continue imaging

31 NGC_7635 Camera: QHY8L Mount: HEQ5 Pro (Max. Weight 15 pounds, current weight: 14 pounds) Mount has been calibrated with Pempro for Polar Alignment + PEC Image Calibrated for BIAS, Darks, Flats and color Image Processing: Photoshop CS4 + Astronomy Tools Sensor Temperature: -15C Humidity: 80-90% Autoguiding: ST80 + SSAG Location: Portland Downtown, OR (Bortle: 8) Unassisted session: CCDComander while I was sleeping + it parks the mount and closes the roll-off roof Total Exposure: 2 sessions of 2 hours each. Total = 4 hours Dates: 9/23 & 9/23 Subs: 96 x 150 seconds

32 M31 Total Exposure: 4.3 hours Red: 12 X 150 sec Blue: 33 x 150 sec Green: 12 x 150 sec Luminance (LPS IDAS): 48 x 150 sec Pixinsight processing and a light amount of Photoshop processing Mount: HEQ5 Pro CCD: Mon QHY9M Telescope: WO Lomo + TV 0.85 reducer (FL=380mm) Imaging: QHY9M + LPS IDAS (Luminance) Sensor temp: -15c Location: Portland Downtown (Bortle: 8)

33 M31

34 Thank you! My water paranoia just a couple of drain holes in case the water can overcome the multiple counter-measures