Something in my shed - now my backyard

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I found this in my shed earlier - I don't know its name yet as it is very shy and wouldn't come out from behind SDM006

(I have been very naughty, and raided my wife's savings - she says it would make a nice gazebo)

[astroron (Ron)]

Nice collection there Johnathon Its a bit small for the SDM

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

it's a shame that the dome opening is too small, otherwise I would have built it around the dob just for the fun of it

[allan gould]

Love the new observatory but the electonics would be a far better fit on mine. Manual is the way to go! Don't be a wimp and settle for the easy life be like the rest of us and wonder where that guide star went as the shutter blocks it out.
Really nice Jonathan, Peter is impressed.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I have to say that having a fully automated observatory is quite a luxury. When I manage to get a cable for the Meade, I'm going to make a video of the two slewing in harmony.

I've even had a 20m x 8m astro pad cut.

My logic was that it is easier to build the observatory at the same time as the new house as I can get the power/network etc installed. I am also linking the observatory to the home entertainment package so that the video cameras can be monitored from any TV in the house! Don't you just love technology

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

jon, you have doomed all in your area.... I CAN SEE THE ASTROGODS have already sent in the "initial" strike force! hahahaha

[Adelastro1 (Wayne England)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

I have to say that having a fully automated observatory is quite a luxury. When I manage to get a cable for the Meade, I'm going to make a video of the two slewing in harmony.

I've even had a 20m x 8m astro pad cut.

My logic was that it is easier to build the observatory at the same time as the new house as I can get the power/network etc installed. I am also linking the observatory to the home entertainment package so that the video cameras can be monitored from any TV in the house! Don't you just love technology

True technology would be to have everything communicate wirelessly! No more tripping over cables... I guess things are slowly getting to that stage though.

Oh! Another thought - buy a new 3D TV and use both scopes so you watch everything from your arm chair in 3D! Unfortunately you still have to wear the stupid looking glasses (ironically they're not much of an advancement in technology!). Imagine looking at Saturn in true 3D through your scopes from your lounge!

[h0ughy (David)]

Mate you have a very large infestation of mushrooms in your shed, must be all that rain and humidity this summer

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Ah, the 'spent too much' Karma has just given me a dreadfull night of computer crashes, dew stuffed up observing

Off to harvest that magic mushroom to cheer me up!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Very nice Jonathan.
I have an observatory to give away that would fit the SDM.
If you're interested.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

oooh, how nice would that be, I have just the place to make a collection ...

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Once you put her in there though, I don't know how you'll get her out again. Without a crane. LOL
But where there's a will there's a way.

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

jon, you have doomed all in your area.... I CAN SEE THE ASTROGODS have already sent in the "initial" strike force! hahahaha

They aren't the initial strike force... those are just recon clouds... you just wait!



Very nice Jonathan!

Al.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I had a productive afternoon getting the dome rotation working with my LX200:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJlctViV-BY

It works like a dream!

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

very nice Jonathan. Can't wait to see it all set up and running

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by peter_4059

very nice Jonathan. Can't wait to see it all set up and running

You're top of my list to help me lift it into place, so you will get to witness it's birth

[h0ughy (David)]

how much was the automation? Do you think it would be easy to retrofit an existing dome?

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

how much was the automation? Do you think it would be easy to retrofit an existing dome?

Sit down, take a very deep breath, close your eyes, take a stiff drink.

You are looking at the cost of the dome again! (around 7K for those who haven't bought a dome recently) It doesn't sound so expensive if you have just bought a $50K 5m dome though...

It can be retrofitted I think (there are some sensor activator blocks built into the top shutter and I don't know if they are standard). It doesn't look overly difficult, but measure 10 times drill once. Even better, as the two halves are physically separate, so you could install the dome rotation without the shutter control and get 90% of the bang for half the cost.

When you look at the technology involved, and appreciate that these things have to be hand crafted the cost seems more reasonable. One day I hope to get the cloud/rain sensor to automatically shut the dome, but thats a further US3K

I might as well get into astrophotogtaphy if I want to throw my money away

[h0ughy (David)]

WOW,
um thanks johnathan - i saw a price for this system but it obviously that must only be the brains and not the hardware. I am not that lazy that i cant open everything up, but it is the rotation that i would like to follow the scope so i dont go out there every hour to move the dome.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

... your taunting the astrogods with testing in a confined space.! lucky the computer system didn't have a brain fart and slam it into the wall :S eek...