Setting Up a Remote
Observatory
Bernard Miller
Agenda
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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
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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)
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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/BulletSecurity-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-WirelessSurveillance-TV-IP422W/dp/B0018DJF4K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_26
Optional Equipment
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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
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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
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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
Pictures
Foundation
Pictures
Slab
Pictures
Midpoint
Pictures
M33
Observatory
M33
Equipment
Pictures
Pictures
PGC 59984
M92
Pictures
NGC 869 & 884
Pictures
NGC 869 & 884
Pictures
Lunar Eclipse
M42
Pictures
Trapezium
Pictures
IC 405
M33
Pictures
NGC 604
M78
McNeil's Nebula
M101
PGC 49919
NGC 5477
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 1
M81
09:55:33.50
69° 04' 02.0"
#dither 0 ; Disable dithering
;
#shutdown ; Shut down the observatory
;
; ----------; END OF PLAN
; -----------
Links
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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.digitalloggers.com/lpc.html
• Video Server:
http://www.stardot.com/products/express-4-videoserver
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