KWR
05-10-2016, 12:18 PM
I guess I'll start my re-introduction here. After a 10 year hiatus form this wonderful hobby, I have recently started the ball rolling to set up a basic little AP system to reignite the passion that still smoulders within. From when it all started back in 2004 (formerly 'Escortitis' on the forum), I jumped in way too deep with 12" light bucket (Lightbridge) on a G11 with no clue of what I was doing and drove up a very steep learning curve for about 2 years. Just as I was making some progress, my career situation took a turn for the better, but left me living in an area with no way of using the monstrosity I had created. So somebody in Perth got a great deal on a G11, and I quickly drifted out of the forum and the hobby.
Roll forward to 2016 and my current housing situation still lacks just about all parameters required for good observing, but I have decided to use that as a challenge, rather than a reason not to start up again. I have also decided to keep the whole venture quite a bit more sane and practical than last time. I have come to realize that I get just as much enjoyment, if not more, from processing data than trying to capture every last photon from the target. My fondness for DIY hacks, gadgets and doing everything on the cheap, will keep me busy during the cloudies. Anyway, the main objectives for this start-up venture, apart from filling up some unusable land, included making the setup as remotely operational as possible. It wont be a fully automated dome, but once the roof is up and the PC is on, mostly the whole process will be able to be completed from the lounge room, or Dad can join in the session from his house. The software packages available to run remote ops and to assist with imaging have advanced so much, I’m effectively starting over again. Luckily the weather in Perth has been so poor of late, I have had plenty of time to familiarise myself with most of the programs.
Some pictures below for your amusement. Basic concept worked given the constraints in place. Aesthetics usually score fairly low on my list of ‘things that need to be done’, normally I stop at ‘does it work?’ My workmanship is appalling compared to most projects I’ve seen on here. Time poor is the general excuse, and you're only out there in the dark anyway! Will update as I gather the bits and pieces on the required list.
:D
Roll forward to 2016 and my current housing situation still lacks just about all parameters required for good observing, but I have decided to use that as a challenge, rather than a reason not to start up again. I have also decided to keep the whole venture quite a bit more sane and practical than last time. I have come to realize that I get just as much enjoyment, if not more, from processing data than trying to capture every last photon from the target. My fondness for DIY hacks, gadgets and doing everything on the cheap, will keep me busy during the cloudies. Anyway, the main objectives for this start-up venture, apart from filling up some unusable land, included making the setup as remotely operational as possible. It wont be a fully automated dome, but once the roof is up and the PC is on, mostly the whole process will be able to be completed from the lounge room, or Dad can join in the session from his house. The software packages available to run remote ops and to assist with imaging have advanced so much, I’m effectively starting over again. Luckily the weather in Perth has been so poor of late, I have had plenty of time to familiarise myself with most of the programs.
Some pictures below for your amusement. Basic concept worked given the constraints in place. Aesthetics usually score fairly low on my list of ‘things that need to be done’, normally I stop at ‘does it work?’ My workmanship is appalling compared to most projects I’ve seen on here. Time poor is the general excuse, and you're only out there in the dark anyway! Will update as I gather the bits and pieces on the required list.
:D