Setting Up a Remote Observatory
Bernard Miller
Agenda
• Roll-off roof versus dome• Required Equipment• Optional Equipment• Software• Demo
Roll-off Roof vs Dome
• Reasons for choosing roll-off roof– More room
• 15x15 footprint allows for two piers– Less complicated
• Syncing scope and roof is one more thing that can go wrong• Possible higher maintenance
– Dome moves constantly throughout imaging session– RoR opens and closes once per session
– Have a friend with RoR that served as an “adviser”• Either one will work fine
– Go with what you are comfortable with
Required Equipment
• Pier• WEB Switch
– To turn equipment on/off
• Video Camera(s)– To see what is going on in the observatory
Required Equipment
• Pier– Concrete Pier using Sonotube
• Cheapest solution• Need to consider mounting plate for mount
Required Equipment
• Pier– Omega1 pier from Backyard Observatories
– More expensive ($800.00)– Pre-installed electrical outlets– Reusable in the future– http://www.backyardobservatories.com
Required Equipment
• Web Power Switch– Power control via the web– Controls up to 8 devices– Connects to internet via IP:port address
• i.e. 123.32.57.6:1234
– http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpc.html
Required Equipment
• Web Power Switch
Required Equipment
• Video– Express 4 Video Server (~$600.00)
• Controls 4 independent video cameras• Streams all four channels to WEB address• WEB access using IP address:port (192.123.63.2:23)• http://californiapc.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=46
Required Equipment
• Video– Video Camera ($132.00 each)
• Very low LUX rating (0.0003)• Need video cable and power supply• http://www.supercircuits.com/Security-Cameras/Bullet-S
ecurity-Cameras/PC88WR-2
Required Equipment• Video Web Page
Required Equipment
• Video– Internet Camera ($235.00)
• TRENDnet SecurView Day/Night Pan/Tilt/Zoom Internet Surveillance Camera TV-IP422 (White)
• Would recommend getting wired version• Avoid infrared cameras• http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-SecurView-Wireless-Surveillanc
e-TV-IP422W/dp/B0018DJF4K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_26
Optional Equipment
• Backup Power Supply• Dome Controller• Power Monitor• At-Park Monitor• Weather Monitor• Flip-Flat
Backup Power Supply
• Backup Power Supply ($130.00 - $500.00)
• http://www.apc.com
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems– Dome Controller ($260)– At-Park Monitor ($35)– Power Monitor ($30)– Weather Monitor ($630)
– http://www.fostersystems.com
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems – Master Controller
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems – Dashboard
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems – RoR Controller
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems – A-Park Monitor
Foster Systems
• Magnetic Switches– Tane Alarm Products
• Model SM35WG• These have a 2-inch gap tolerance (WG stands for wide gap)• Easier to work with on RA/DEC since it is not always possible to
space them close together– In Phoenix I got mine at
• Tri-Ed 3725 E Roeser Rd., Suite 15 Phoenix, AZ 85040 Tel 877 874 3300 - 602 470 9170 Fax 602 470 9838
– Use 20 or 22-guage 2-wire security cable• Available at Home Depot
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems – Power Monitor
Foster Systems
• Foster Systems – Weather Monitor
Foster Systems
• Flip-Flat – Used to take flat field images ($450.00)– http://alnitakastro.com/products/flip-flat/
Software
• ACP– Main observatory control software
• MaximDL– Controls Camera and guide scope
• FocusMax– Performs camera auto focus
• Pempro– PEC and polar alignment
Software
• ACP ($895.00 plus $295.00/year)– Main observatory control software– Controls roof, telescope, mount, camera, focuser,
FTP for file transfers– Integrates with MaximDL, FocusMax, Foster
Systems controllers, and all equipment drivers– Fully ASCOM compatible
Software
• ACP
Software
• ACP Roof Setup
Software
• ACP Auto Guiding Setup
Software
• ACP Auto Focus Setup
Software
• MaximDL ($600.00)– Camera and Guider control software– Integrates with ACP and telescope– Controls guider and image acquisition
Software
• MaximDL
Software
• FocusMax– Controls most autofocusers– I use Microtouch Autofocuser– Integrates with ACP to perform autofocus before
and during image acquisition– Freeware
Software
• FocusMax
Software
• Pempro ($150.00)– PEC
• Measure and train PEC on most mounts
– Polar Align Wizard• Assists with drift method for polar alignment
Total Cost
• Lease: $5000.00• Observatory: $8500.00• Pier: $800.00• Web switch: $109.00• Video Server: $600.00• Video Cameras: $400.00• Foster Systems Controller: $350.00• ACP: $895.00• MaximDL: $600.00• Pempro $150.00• Total: $17,404.00
Some Pictures
PicturesFoundation
PicturesSlab
PicturesMidpoint
PicturesM33
Observatory
PicturesM33Equipment
Pictures M92PGC 59984
Pictures NGC 869 & 884
Pictures NGC 869 & 884
PicturesLunar Eclipse
PicturesM42
Trapezium
Pictures
IC 405
PicturesM33
NGC 604
M78
McNeil's Nebula
M101
NGC 5477
PGC 49919
M81
Holmberg IX
Demo;; --------------------------------------------; This plan was generated by ACP Planner 4.2.6; --------------------------------------------;; For: Bernard; Location: Rancho Hidalgo; Coords: Lat = 31° 56' 49" Lon = 108° 53' 54"; Targets: 1;; NOTE: Timing features are disabled;; Autofocus at start of run.;; ---------------------------------------------;#autofocus;; === Target M81 ===;#dither 0.8 ; Automatic dithering#repeat 1#count 1#filter Luminance#interval 60#binning 1M81 09:55:33.50 69° 04' 02.0"#dither 0 ; Disable dithering;#shutdown ; Shut down the observatory;; -----------; END OF PLAN; -----------;
Links
• My Web site: http://www.azstarman.net• Rancho Hidalgo: http://www.hidalgonm.com• Granite Gap: http://www.granitegap.com• Backyard Observatories:
http://www.backyardobservatories.com/• Web Power Switch:
http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpc.html• Video Server:
http://www.stardot.com/products/express-4-video-server
Links• CaliforniaPC.com (Video Server):
http://californiapc.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=46
• APC (UPS): http://www.apc.com• Foster Systems: http://www.fostersystems.com• ACP Observatory Control:
http://acp.dc3.com/index2.html• MaximDL: http://www.cyanogen.com• FocusMax:
http://users.bsdwebsolutions.com/~larryweber/FocusMaxDownload.htm
• Pempro: http://www.ccdware.com/products/pempro