Ten Chain Hill New Moon Nights - Page 4

pmrid (Peter) · #61 13-11-2014, 10:02 AM

Hi guys. Just an update on my current project - Pier 3.
It's more or less ready to roll. EQMOD runs the mount back through a HitecAstro Mount Hub Pro to a laptop with a nice nw SSD to make it a bit quicker.
A touch of drift aligning via PHD2 if the weather clears a bit.
Disappointed with the WO reducer/flattener IV. I can't squeeze enough backfocus out of this old Orion scope. I put a JMI focuser on it a long time ago and it's a big mother. And its R&P as well with no reduction gear. Those were my visual days. And I can't even get a DSLR to get the minimum 66mm focal distance the WO requires. So I lose my reduction factor and may also not get much flattening. Some star time will tell. If I can't, I'll take it off and put it on the ED127 instead of the AP .67 reducer.
And in that case, I'll try to get the FLI focuser and FW back onto it.
Whatever, it'll be a touch of fun.

Peter

RickS (Rick) · #62 13-11-2014, 10:13 AM

It's starting to look like one of the sheds full of scopes at SRO, Peter

pmrid (Peter) · #63 13-11-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickS

It's starting to look like one of the sheds full of scopes at SRO, Peter

Yes, it does a bit. My obsession is showing I guess. That section of naked floor has been nagging at me for ages - it just cried out for some better use. And of course, I do just happen to have the next project in mind - to put the ED127 on the HEQ5Pro - should squeeze within its weight limits - and refurbish my old 10 inch f3.8 astrograph and whack that on the EQ8. The old Orion is a bit of fun but not a serious rig and heaven knows you have to be serious - right???

Peter

RickS (Rick) · #64 13-11-2014, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrid

The old Orion is a bit of fun but not a serious rig and heaven knows you have to be serious - right???

Nothing good ever came of "fun"

RobF (Rob) · #65 13-11-2014, 07:24 PM

I'm frightened of squeezing around in there in the dark as it is, but good on you for scrounging more space and putting another rig to use Peter.

ozstronomer (Geoff) · #66 13-11-2014, 07:49 PM

Peter

I think you may need to rearrange the furniture in the Control Room to accomadate the extra computing power required

Spookyer (Brett) · #67 13-11-2014, 10:17 PM

Yes, perhaps floor to ceiling monitoring screens for the feeds from the multiple scopes!

pmrid (Peter) · #68 13-11-2014, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spookyer

Yes, perhaps floor to ceiling monitoring screens for the feeds from the multiple scopes!

Yes. I was impressed with the layout of the ESAmission control room for Philae. There's a lot to be learned from their example.
Peter

pmrid (Peter) · #69 14-11-2014, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrid

............... The old Orion is a bit of fun but not a serious rig and heaven knows you have to be serious - right???

Peter

Well, I've solved the problem of too little infocus. I took 60mm off the end of the OTA with my trusty angle-grinder. Probably hasn't done much for resale but now I can get all the bits and bobs I wanted into the optical train AND use the WO flattener/reducer. It is an extension of my general philosophy of "things that don't work " - the product of ignorance of course but there you have it - if it doesn't work, and it can't be fixed with a hammer or an angle grinder, then it just wasn't meant to work and it should be junked.

Peter