The doghouse observatory becomes a reality

[h0ughy]

Actually it is 12 months ago today that i managed to secure the purchase of this dome - and i a weeks time i might even have the morotisation working LOL. 2010 has been a great year

[dugnsuz]

:lol: Love it!
Doug

[h0ughy]

Well i received the Cassidy bars today and quickly put them into action. When Al dropped in i used that as an excuse to stop work cleaning up the garage and shed and mount the C11 on the G11. Photo's tell the story.

BTW an extra 2.5 kg bar bell weight was required and it is double sided tape and electrician tape while i get a bolt and washer later this afternoon. we aligned distributed the weight and balanced the current setup. This is great, it will be crystal clear tonight so i will use the opportunity to align the scopes and image with the 127 - i still need the adapter for the hyperstar on the C11.

I have two computers in there now with full ups protection and ups protection for the g11.

[multiweb]

C11/Hyperstar + 127mm Refractor side by side on the G11? Sure about it? :question:

[h0ughy]

way under the 27kg payload - and find out very soon

[multiweb]

I'll be interested to see how it guides. You're on a peer so I guess you have the time to really balance it out. Still heavy though.

[allan gould]

Bugger all the scopes, David. Have you installed the Maxdome II yet?

[h0ughy]

Well the balance is very touchy - need to look at that again and it is more sensitive to the wind but the seeing is crud tonight - however taking that into consideration i still have round stars?:shrug:

[h0ughy]

maybe tomorrow Allan - had to clean the office and shed today:rofl:

[davewaldo]

Looking great David! I looks like there is plenty of room in there considering the gear you have mounted! Is that a 3.5m dome?
All the best!

[h0ughy]

no its only the 2.3m but i am hoping that the tracking control will aid in both scopes being able to image - almost same width as opening LOL

[strongmanmike]

Wow Dave, that looks awesome dude!

I'd be over in a flash just to feel the vibe standing in the presence of all this wonderful gear in that observatory of yours :eyepop:...only I need to take advantage of the clear weather :).

I'd love to visit one cloudy night soon though and drool...

Mike

[h0ughy]

your welcome to come over and drool

[h0ughy]

ok more updates - i now have my qhy10 adapter, a new 2" Astronomic CLS CCD filter, and new power cables from CentralDS for the 40D - I now have the complete outfit for the hyperstar, but i am looking at getting a modification done to the hyperstar to make it easier to collimate and setup (http://www.eclipsus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=56). stay tuned for that one

Also looking into a solid dewshield and using a endcap (http://astrozap.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=124)

need to get some more software for collimation of a F2 system:lol: (http://www.ccdware.com/products/ccdinspector/)

[h0ughy]

I haven't taken pictures but i have this afternoon with the aid of Alan installed the rail and motor for the rotation of the dome, and the solar panel. The battery wasn't fully charged but i did manage to manually use the controller and rotate the dome 1 full rotation and back. Cool gear indeed, i installed the motor so that i can reach the PC from the control unit without an extension cable. This is one huge step for the doghouse!

I might add that 20 minutes after we finished and sealed up the bolts and holes etc it rained

[h0ughy]

here are some more progress images - yet to install the magnetic home switch

[sheeny]

Looking really good Dave!

Al.

[h0ughy]

well the next chapter will be written soon - upgrading the mount

[acropolite]

looking forward to seeing the next installment, hopefully that won't involve a marriage status update.....:P

[bartman]

Soooooo what do you have in mind??????
Give us a hint......
Bartman

[h0ughy]

ooohhh no now that would be a titanic struggle:help::eyepop:

[h0ughy]

um its black, has worms, wires and like me is a bit weighty:P;)

[bartman]

:question::question::question::ques tion::question::question:

Putting the two together ....
some sort of Losmandy Titan :shrug::shrug::shrug:
dont think it will weigh as much though!!!
Bartman
P.S. good on you !!!!!!

[h0ughy]

well here is an update,

the titan is in the doghouse

the 14" meade is on top with a ed80 bolted on top

the power supplies are back in after qld astrofest and.....

i cant drift align because i cant find my power lead for the losmandy, it was packed away well at astrofest.
and it a rare night as it is dark and clear tonight - first decent night since astrofest. will have to drift align tomorrow night. I am so looking forward to this.

BTW there is not much room left in the dome with this setup

[sheeny]

I'm not surprised, but I'm sure you aren't complaining!;)

:)

Al.

[allan gould]

Still want to know how you got it past SHMBO.
Great mount, great scope (thanks for the comet view at Astrofest) expect great photos.

[RB]

You'll have to buy his book.

:lol:

[h0ughy]

it was installed the very next day Al and i got back - i had an rdo ;) even mr alder came over to give a hand to install the ota. But the weather has been pretty ordinary to do anything with it and the family required the attention

[h0ughy]

you're still proofreading it:P

[RB]

:lol:

[h0ughy]

and here is what it looks like very quickly. still need to install the cameras and i probably will have to use a dew strap now seeing as though the scope is so close to the opening of the dome

[h0ughy]

and here is a live demo LOL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVpP3MB0s7Q)

[RB]

What a monster setup !!!
Green with envy.
Thanks for the YT clip looks and sounds amazing.

LOL Tania will be wondering why you're using a dentist's drill in the doghouse.

:question:

[h0ughy]

well i should be out there later setting the rest of the gear up and drift aligning the scope

[h0ughy]

well here we are, several months further down the track and I have adjusted the scope setup (thanks for the manpower Scott and Alan) and soon will be using an on axis guider. I have a mess of cables (still sorting out the setup then everything will be measured and placed in a nice safe place with spacing loops.) once i have the setup achieved this will be left that way for sometime. Setting everything up is frustrating - especially with this ruddy weather

[RB]

How awesome is that!
Great setup mate.
Careful you don't decapitate yourself in there, not much room left when that 14" starts slewing around.

:lol:

[h0ughy]

:rofl: you should have been there when Al and Scott were in the doghouse with me, helping me adjust the scope on the mount to balance. Not so squizzy:rofl:

[allan gould]

David, if you get a lighting strike on that observatory in Newcastle, we will see the glow in the night sky here in Brisbane!
ET could be in there signaling home and you would never know.

[h0ughy]

what would you be implying Allan:question:

[marc4darkskies]

Hey Houghy!! You should start a competition mate ... how many plug boards can you see in this picture!!:eyepop:.

What adjustment to the scope setup did you make?

Cheers, Marcus

[h0ughy]

there are 8 if you count the UPS's :rofl:

there was polar aligning and then the biggie - moving the scope on the mount to balance it . also removed the ed80 and added the camera and focuser stuff and a few powerboards:question::P

[allan gould]

You must have doubled Newcastle's carbon footprint with that setup!
Put anything else in there and it will collapse to a neutron star

[Bassnut]

Insane, I love it. Just goes to show, more is better, always :-)

[h0ughy]

:rofl: yes it is. power for each item seperately, so if one fails the others still work:question:

[Tandum]

Strewth, don't trip in the dark or you'll end up trapped like a certain horse in a recent spielberg flick. :lol:

[h0ughy]

:rofl: anit theft device :help: