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