Terroux Observatory - Wallaroo Stage 3 has started Yay!

[strongmanmike]

Well first sod has been turned on Terroux Observatory - woohoo :thumbsup:

Located on my neighbours property some 400m away from the current setup (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/151288349/original) the new observatory will be bigger and better.

Site cut, pier footing hole and access path done, 100mm road base coming during the week for the rectangular observing site and access path.

Not sure exactly which way I am going to go then though :question:

Option 1) (most expensive) Self contained observatory consisting of a 4.8mX2.4m or 6mX3m modified building site shed with the 2.3m sirrius dome only on top of one half and elevated floor inside around telescope, hole in elevated floor and site shed floor, delivered finished and lowered over the concrete pier.

or

Option 2) (least expensive) Move existing complete Sirius Observatory and re erect as it is now and then have an unmodified site shed as a separate heated control room building several meters from the Sirius observatory and the remaining space will be an outdoor observing area - for the planned new visual scope purchased with the savings :D (or to cover dome motorisation :question:)

Still trying to decide...either way the cleared plot and location of pier footing will accommodate both options.

I have sited teh observatory about 100m from the neighbours house, another unused outhouse forms a visual barrier from the main house so no lights they may ever want to use can ever annoy me :)

Yet another journey ahead and almost exactly 1 year after building the current outfit (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/building_wallaroo_observatory). At least if I go option 2) I know what I am doing now :P

...more fun and games begin

Mike

[Bassnut]

Excellent Mike, lookin serious :-).

[Rodstar]

Looking forward to seeing this project unfold Mike. As you say, having "practiced" last year, this attempt should produce even better results. I am positive it will be "dram-worthy".

[Ric]

Looks like a great project Mike.

Just wondering why you are building it on the neighbours property though?

[strongmanmike]

He he...will I have dome automation though...? :question:



Cheers Rod, having it not in my own backyard makes the building process a little more difficult but I will manage, once finished it will be ok.



Cheers Ric

Yes, well...wife wishes to move back into the City so she can order home delivered pizza again, Mike very unhappy and wishes to stay in the country to enjoy the darker skies, wife is very happy to leave Mike in the country..:sadeyes:..Mike asks neighbours for help :prey: neighbours love the idea of an observatory on their place...everyone happy again :D

[h0ughy]

makes me very very jealous, i really hope you end up in a happy place.

As for me and my little light pollution problem - on Saturday we were about to make an offer on a property but then left the property dejected as the covenant of the land precluded shed or outbuildings being erected or constructed. it was the darkest place i have been too in suburbia, the house was right, close enough for Brad to go to school and i had full command of all the sky with no streetlights or homes being a problem.
If i were you go the cheaper option and get the dome motors, don't bother with the dome opening motors just get the dome rotation. haggle with the price for the maxdome and the motor system, i saved over 900 dollars

[strongmanmike]

Me too...and for us not to bluudy well move again soon :mad2:



Doh! well, at least your are seriously looking, ie it sounds liek it is going to happen for you and that's great news!! :thumbsup:




Hmmm?..yes...dome rotation..or..a visual scope to use will imaging chugs away, can't afford both....dilemmas :question: :thumbsup:

Mike

[mithrandir]

Can they stop you building an obs it if is attached to an existing building?
Maybe one built into a roof space. You'd need a long pier and might have some issues with retained heat, but you'd have no problems with power or access to a warm room.

[KenGee]

Hi Mike good luck with the new project. if you are going to go to site for imaging sessions then just get rotation.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers and Yes, I wouldn't bother with the motor shutters

Wish I had more money :lol:

Mike

[SkyViking]

Looking great Mike, I hope you'll soon have your dream obs ready :) :thumbsup:

[cybereye]

Mike,

This looks serious! However won't being 100m from a house mean that you'll have to increase the volume of Luciano's singing so that they can hear it? :question:

I too have a ideal site for an observatory that just needs a little clearing. However my wife loves the existing Lilli-Pilli tree that is there and can't see the benefits of removing it... I explain, draw diagrams, show photos, produce charts, remonstrate with outlandish hand gestures as only an Italian can, all to no avail! Wives - what can you do....:shrug:

Cheers,
Mario

[strongmanmike]

So do I...still in mental turmoil over the exact design path....



:lol: luckily they are big opera fans, Pete's favourite aria is Una furtiva Lagrima..the first verse of which I can at least scrape together :D


Observatory for a tree no brainer... transplant it :)

Mike

[cybereye]

A tad too big to transplant unfortunately... :sadeyes:

[RickS]

Good luck with the project, Mike!

[marc4darkskies]

Always like to follow your observatory building projects Mike! :);)

Either option it's a no brainer to motorize the dome, right?

Curious: do you have a lease agreement in place for the use of the land ... or is it just a handshake?

Cheers, Marcus

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Rick



Yes motorization is looking good but I promised the neighbours I would have a visual scope handy to show visitors the sky through (they have a big extended family and hold fund raising functions on the property from time to time) and my scope is always tied up with imaging gear attached permanently...so I was pretty keen on getting a nice 12" dob or similar and besides I wouldn't mind being able to do some visual while the scope images..? :question:

At this point just a hand shake but we may draw up somthing more formal when the construction is complete..?

Mike

[CapturingTheNight]

Good luck with the build Mike. I'll be watching this closely as well as going back through the DIY Obs threads of old, as I have just purchased a house for myself and have plans to get my deep space gear permanently setup.

[Ric]

Stay in the bush mate, home delivered pizza is way over-rated. :D

[Mighty_oz]

Or learn how to make home made pizza for the wife that she loves and then u can both stay there :) ??
Wish u well with your plans.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers men...ah yes, I thiiiink that was just a metaphor for restaurants, shops, markets, theatre, human life etc (I pointed out the ambulance sirens, police sirens, trucks, high reving motorbikes, drunks etc...didn't work :sadeyes:)

Women :rolleyes:...complex creatures :rolleyes: :love: :lol:

Mike

[el_draco]

Rom has recipe for home made Pizza that will make wife want to stay in the country and be most appreciative ;)

[TimberLand]

Been off line for a while with work and family life, but I see the world goes forward for all. I see it pays to keep your neighbours happy, very accommodating to let you use some land.

Yes the country discussion is a tough one, my wife loves the country life for short periods and I think I want to keep it that way at least for the moment (snakes really get her off side)

Thinking of building a pizza oven, maybe I need to work a bit harder on this to avoid your situation.

[ZeroID]

BBQ with hood and a pizza stone works for us, beautiful pizzas. Make your own base dough, add tomato piazza, Mozarella and toppings, plenty of garlic and olive oil .... better stop now, I'm getting hungry. :P

[multiweb]

So you're going remote and all pretty soon? :bashcomp:

[strongmanmike]

Nah no remote, essentially just a rework of the current setup but with some accomodation for my lumpy frame since I won't have my house to go back into, and I will likely control the scope from inside the accomodation wing :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Road base packed and site leveled...and look, I will have a direct view to a distant Mt Stromlo Observatory when exiting the observatory, how cool is that? :thumbsup:

Mike

[h0ughy]

you can range find the observatory (http://www.iimagespace.com/images/ds/mw-laser.jpg) RB style

[cybereye]

Mike,

Don't let your wife see this if pizza is the real reason she wants to head back into town - you'll be in Melbourne before you know it!! Australian Man makes the World's Best Neapolitan (http://www.thelocal.it/20140411/australia-has-worlds-best-neapolitan-pizza) :D

Cheers,
Mario

[strongmanmike]

Constructed the support pier form work today.

The support pier and footing will be formed in a single pour, if need be the Formatube can be removed for the start of the pour and along with the side access holes allow for easy access so the footing can be filled to the top, then the side hole overs will be replaced and screwed down and the Formatube re-positioned and secured in place and filled, then the bolt pattern sunk in the top. This will have the entire footing and support pier as a single solid unit.

The column will be 400mm dia and 600mm high and the 1000X700X650 footing goes down to rock too, so at a total weight of about 1300kg it should all be pretty solid :P

Mike

[strongmanmike]

All ready for the concrete this week :cool:

The Formwork design will facilitate a single concrete pour for a one piece monolithic footing and support column :D

The Formatube will be removed to allow good access to fill the footing with concrete then the side top access holes will be screwed closed and the Formatube secured back in place to pour the column.

Hopefully the surrounding elevated deck will be completed next weekend

Mike

[Bassnut]

Lookin good Mike, simple, effective. If you get the chance, stick a 1 inch plastic pipe somewhere in that tube to feed cables through so no cables loose on the floor later.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Fred, yes maybe a good idea?

The monolithic pier will weigh 1500kg (3 X my greatest ever deadlift :P)... so, I think it will be rather immovable :question: :lol:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Monolithic pier was poured today using a single pour...thankfully the form-work held and didn't lift.

I marked true south with a star picket and red flag at 50m to align the bolt pattern on. I positioned the stake at night by standing behind the pier and sighting on the SCP (whose location I know very accurately) using binoculars and dropping them down over and over a few times to determine exactly where to place the stake and thus quite accurately position the bolt pattern :thumbsup:

The elevated deck is being built around the pier on Wednesday and hopefully I can move the Sirius Observatory on the weekend and get the site shed delivered :)

Mike

[strongmanmike]

The formwork was removed from the concrete support column this morning and the deck is now done, just some paint and then the Sirius Observatory can be dismantled from my place, moved a mere 600m and re-erected on top here :)

Leigh Bason and his Canberra Decks crew arrived around 8.30am and drove away at around 12.30pm....no way I could have done it that easily and that fast, so thanks boys :thumbsup:

The 3.6m X 2.5m Ausco site shed control/warm room arrives next Tues morning :)

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

Very cool Mike!! :thumbsup: Looks vaguely familiar. :question: :) Definitely the way to go to get some pros to do the hard work in short order - took me a few weekends to build my deck! You painting it green? :D

[strongmanmike]

LOL yes looks familiar indeed...yours is perhaps a little more over-engineered but this was only $2K all up labour and materials, I recon that's a bargain and certainly beats all the logistics (remote unpowered site), materials and construction effort it would have taken me!! Cyclone rated stainless steel bugle head screws used throughout too :thumbsup:

As for painting it green...hmmm? :whistle: probably not...I am thinking plain white to match the dome...but maybe another earthy colour hmm? I know!!.. 70's Mission Brown! :thumbsup:

Mike

[RickS]

Looks great, Mike!

[Octane]

That looks fantastic. Will be an awesome setup, no doubt. :)

H

[RB]

:rofl: :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Rick



Thanks H, yes should be fairly comfortable...since I will be living 30min drive away I thought it best to give the new observatory a separate control/warm room :D complete with solar power



This is what it will look like when I am finished :D

[RB]

I could send you a few Greek statues to finish it off.

:P

[strongmanmike]

Hmm? this one would look good...could you get me a bigger one though :question:

[RB]

:lol:

Leave it with me, I'll see what I have out back.

:P

[strongmanmike]

Deck is now painted ready for the Sirius Dome to be secured on top next weekend, I used Wattyl decking paint and I went with Colourbond colour "Blue Ridge"...should look nice with the white Observatory on top :)

The Control room arrives on Tues morning...exciting :D

Mike

[SkyViking]

That looks very cool Mike, you must be so excited! :)

[strongmanmike]

Well actually :whistle:...I'm rather sick of building observatories :rolleyes:, this is the second in a year :help2:

Buuuut I guess it will be a step up from what I have now but (and apart from the scope) not quuuuite as good as I had 10 years ago (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/observatory_construction&page=all)..close I guess but would be better if it was all in one structure as I had hoped (proved just outside budget) and out my back door :sadeyes: and no I can't afford to automate it and go remote, contrary to some badgering from certain people :rolleyes: :lol: that costs serious $$ :mad2:

Anyway, we make the most of it :)

Mike

[RickS]

When do the clouds arrive, Mike? :lol:

[marc4darkskies]

Nice blue!! :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

...as soon as I have finished her most likely :question:



Yes, looked more grey in the shop :question:...but I like it anyway :)

[strongmanmike]

The AUSCO (http://www.ausco.com.au/) transportable site shed (warm and control room) arrived today :D

Just relocating the 2.3m sirius Observatory onto the blue platform to go now, oh and the solar power, batteries etc....:)

Mike

[h0ughy]

ow did you get the shed? is that hired or bought?

[RickS]

Skies are still clear. Will the clouds appear the instant you're ready to go? :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Bought



...yeah probably :mad2: :lol:

[multiweb]

Looking nice. Are you going to run the cables and power in a trench between building and obs? Batteries, Generator or main?

[strongmanmike]

I will eventually, initially though I will just run an extension cord out as I do now, the batteries will be inside the shed. Was thinking of controlling the Obs lappie with MS remote desk top..? not sure never done that before though..?

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Here's some more photos of the Control Room arriving :thumbsup:

Have to say, Anthony Virzi from AUSCO was a great help over a number of months while I searched and went through several (grand) designs and modification options, assisting with finding the right shed for my observatory. While only a very small sale for him in the scheme of things and not a normal action as part of a sale, Anthony never the less personally came all the way out to Wallaroo on delivery day just to make sure all went well, a lovely guy showing great interest in the project regardless of its small size - great personal service!

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Really hope you don't have to move again Mike!!

You really have had a time of it over the past 3 years, just shows your dedication to AP.

Look forward to your images from the new observatory.

Cheers,

Justin.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, call me crazy...but then I don't think I'm alone there :question: :P

Mike

[Derek Klepp]

Mike just a thought once you have the dome on I would check the stability of the structure with just those four piers .Its probably fine otherwise you could use steel piers and bolt onto the deck with deeper footings.Look foward to seeing it all finished.

[strongmanmike]

Yes, thought of that Derek and we did dig deeper footings but the support strength seems very good. I may well drive a couple of star pickets at 45deg deep into the ground under the edge of the deck and chain it down just in case of very high winds. The observatory itself will be held down with large roofing screws and a bolt and nut where possible

Mike

[multiweb]

Yeah I can't see why not. Very cool setup. Armchair imaging. My kind of stuff.

[marc4darkskies]

How cool is that!! Nice! :thumbsup:



And I'm sure glad he put bars on the windows - wouldn't want the inmate to escape!!! :)

[strongmanmike]

Looks alright huh? :D



Who? him (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/133273670/original)...:question:

[strongmanmike]

With some help from my son Riley and two of his ADFA mates and my neighbours large trailer, we successfully shifted the 2.3m Sirius Observatory...a whopping 1km away.... next door :lol:

We managed to move it in just two pieces and thus just two trips so the task was quite straightforward

I have now secured the observatory to the deck, which proved perfectly level so the dome rotates beautifully with just two fingers :)

Tomorrow will be sealing day, and since it is now 3 years since taking delivery of the AG12 and while I have the scope down I think I will clean the mirrors before re-erecting it at the new site :)

Mike
ah yes...in my haste to get the observatory shifted..I um err forgot to clean her again :ashamed:

[h0ughy]

i hope to move mine soon but don't have a base to setup on yet. well done:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Well, I remember you have the space in the back yard (?) and your move distance is short too, so as you can see, with a trailer you can happily move it in just two pieces and two trips = much less work in both pull down and re-setup :thumbsup:...I was lucky I wasn't travelling on public roads so you would have to secure it better to the trailer and no one could ride in the trailer either :whistle:.

Mike

[Ouija]

so lucky to be out in the bush. nice.

[Joshua Bunn]

Exiting stuff Mike. It looks a little dry out there, looking at that last middle picture. Has the rain been scarce?

[strongmanmike]

Yes Tony, dark skies do help, although my skies are good they are not true dark skies as I am less than 10km from the edge of Canberra so somewhere between Bortel scale 3 and 4 but easily accessible (30min drive) from the Canberra CBD where we are about to move to :sadeyes:



No not really dry Josh, probably just the angle of that photo, I had to postpone the concrete pour two weeks ago due to a week of wet weather.

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Well today I silicone sealed around the base of the dome, installed the metal pier, rubber flooring, seal around the support pier and the NJP mount and tonight polar aligned (see below!!).

Tonight an absolute miracle occurred!!!! After driving a star picket into the ground to mark true south using binoculars to site the SCP a couple of weeks ago before the column pour and then siting the bolt pattern off this (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/156666630/original)when pressing the bolts into the wet concrete and after installing the metal support pier and NJP mount today... tonight I found out how close I got it :scared2:....well, to my disbelief I was absolutely flabbergasted to see tonight when looking through the NJP polar scope that it was pointing exactly at the SCP, I mean exactly ie to within 2 arc min of the pole, no kidding!! just incredible, I couldn't believe my eyes, I did not need to make a single alt/az adjustment. Now THAT's what I call getting the concrete bolt pattern alignment planning on the money :thumbsup: :D...who needs T-Point, I have Star-picket Point :lol:

Of course as you would have guessed with no scope installed yet...not only was it cold, clear and still tonight but the seeing looked excellent too with no discernible twinkling in stars higher than about 30deg above the horizon :doh:

Oh and I also installed "La La" the Iron Chicken, she's the security :P

Mike

[Joshua Bunn]

So good when a plan comes together Mike, Good oll star pickets! Bet your happy to be back under the stars.

[strongmanmike]

I seriously could not believe my eyes :shrug:..I had to really make sure I wasn't seeing things, I even rang my wife to tell her..and got a "that's nice dear" :lol:

I will be happy once the solar power system and batteries are installed and I see everything working as it it should...but yes it is a beautiful spot and I savoured the conditions and soaked it all in :)

Mike

[multiweb]

Not long now. :stargaze:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, still a few things to do but it's looking good anyway...even if it doesn't work yet :)

It was a lovely night last night too, the view from up there is spectacular under a partial moon. Those mountains all had snow on them Sat morning too.

Mike

[Paul Haese]

Looks good Mike. Solar power on board and away you go.

[h0ughy]

how cool i that - looking good Mike, so should it be called the chook shed observatory ;)

[RB]

no, that name's reserved.

:P

[strongmanmike]

Listen pecker heads.. I know you are just scratching and trying to ruffle my feathers but stop with the poultry jibes...or I'll sic La la on to you :lol:

[ZeroID]

Careful Guys, or he'll lay one on ya ....

[h0ughy]

yep no use going off halfcocked, he orta be roostered to that:rofl:

after all the dome is sunny side up:question::help::lol:

[strongmanmike]

Aaaah you crack Michele :lol:

[strongmanmike]

This weekend I pick up the 160W solar panel, 30amp solar regulator fully wired up with an Anderson plug all ready to plug in to my big kickass batteries :thumbsup:...just thought I'd say :P...hmm, I must be getting excited and impatient huh? :face:

Mike

[Paul Haese]

Automation?;)

[strongmanmike]

Oh of course Paul, here's a schematic of my affordable solution

[Paul Haese]

:) When you have the money I am sure.

[mental4astro]

Mate, barely enough to power a decent coffee machine! The desk you've got set up might just be big enough to hold it...

Lovely stuff Mike. You must be chaffing at the bit something horrid to get those photons! Oh so close.

[multiweb]

Get a spin bike and charge those banks while imaging. :rundog: <- (substitute cycling mike)

[strongmanmike]

He he, hmmm? a nice espresso machine would be nice :question: maybe when I have saved enough to afford full automation...?..I will spend it on another coupl'a big batteries and that machine :D



Of course as Murphy would have it, the last couple of weeks here in the national capital the weather has been superb :rolleyes:...the consolation is that it has happened over the full moon period so I don't feel toooo cheated :sadeyes:

[multiweb]

Espresso -> :rundog:
Capuccino -> :rundog::rundog::rundog:

[strongmanmike]

Installed the solar power system over the weekend :)

2 X 150ahr AGM deep cycle batteries
1 X 160W solar panel
1 X 30amp solar regulator/charger
1 X 1000W pure sine inverter with two 240V outlets
1 X 12V cigarette lighter socket
1 X Volt meter

I used slotted angle to mount the 160W Solar panel to the shed, this makes it adjustable to allow for the changing Solar altitude throughout the year :thumbsup:

Next will be the scope install (and eventually the coffee machine)

Mike

[RickS]

Looking good, Mike!

[Joshua Bunn]

Yes! Looking good Mike. The photons are not far away now.:astron:

[strongmanmike]

Hey cheers guys...of course I had some trepidation leaving her yesterday and relying on the regulator to control everything :prey:...hopefully it doesn't all melt and burn down :scared2:

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

Good stuff!! :thumbsup: 300 aHrs worth of battery will keep you humming for a while! How much power does the whole shebang consume?

[cybereye]

Eventually?.... What you talkin' 'bout Willis?! That should've been the first piece of equipment installed....

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Marcus

Hmmm I recon just for imaging ie lappie, mount, cameras, all heaters etc I will chug along at around 10A or less, add some low wattage lights in the shed and another remote lappie or desktop computer (coming) and allowing for some ifficiency losses...I shouldn't go below 50% battery charge even after a winter all nighter. Hopefully my calculations are ok, at $430 a pop, those big kickass batteries weren't cheap :eyepop:



Hmmm?..I do like a good coffee (or two) around midnight during an all nighter :question:....leave it with me :thumbsup:

Mike

[mithrandir]

Mike, the tilt doesn't matter that much. I'd say set to your latitude and forget. What's more important is how close the panels face to true north. If you're way off you might do better to parallel another panel on another wall.

[Paul Haese]

Schmick looking solar system Mike. Did you wire it up yourself? Huge batteries too. Certainly coming together for you. Congrats.

[strongmanmike]

The panel is pointing about 10deg East of North Andrew so I thought that was close enough :shrug:... and is currently angled to point about 60deg up ready for spring and summer (From Canberra Sun altitude at the meridian varies from 32deg in winter to 78deg in Summer) but I can vary my panel from 0 deg (flat against the wall :lol:) to well.. pointing straight up at 90deg if I want :P and yes wired it all up myself...hence the trepidation :help:

Mike

[Paul Haese]

As long you followed the wiring diagram all will be well Mike. If something was wired incorrectly you would soon know about it. ;)

[mithrandir]

10 deg off N should be fine Mike. If you wanted to set and forget you'd be better off setting the angle for winter since you get less intensity with the longer atmosphere path at lower elevation, and get fewer hours of daylight.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Andrew, food for thought :)

Mike

[gregbradley]

Looking very nice Mike. I'll be especially interested to know how that works out as I may copy you at my dark site.

Greg.

[mental4astro]

<sigh>... Mike, just let me know when YOU HAVE installed it... :drink:

[multiweb]

Very nice. I give you a month or two before you start thinking of remote imaging...

[strongmanmike]

Oh I would...it's just the money, this was done on a tight budget that has just about run out now. I would have to add dome and slit automation hardware, mount upgrade, computers, weather sensors, control software etc...no can do anytime soon sadly :sadeyes:

Mike

[multiweb]

nah... spare key + neighbourgh's mobile number + bottle of vino. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yes well....I am being trained in how to feed their performance horses when they are away.. soooo, I guess I could return the favour and train Pete in starting up and shutting down all my gear....:question: :lol:

Mike

[SkyViking]

Very nice Mike, your new obs is looking fabulous :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Rolf, yes it looks kinda like a mini pro observatory complex really huh? complete with white domed observatory with a control room, admin and accomodation wing :lol:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Well...took just over 3 months but viola! Terroux Observatory at Wallaroo is ready for business :cool:

I washed the primary mirror this morning before taking the scope out to Wallaroo to install.

Ooooh all shiny and like new :love:

After a soft brush and blow off, the secondary was really pretty ok so I didn't bother with the more complicated removal and cleaning of that

Tonight I also got everything runnning using everything I could possibly run and all at once just to make sure my solar power/battery system worked and all ok :thumbsup: after 2.5hrs of test imaging, gotos and using lights, lappie, cameras and all heaters etc, when I disconnected the load (and waited 15min) the big Kickass batteries still showed a healthy 12.8V (essentially full)... so I think my power calculations were good :D

Also tested the isolation of the pier from the observatory...well, my 140kg frame walking heavily all around the scope did not show in the guiding or the resultant subs!!...and the floor held solid too :prey:

Now for some fairdinkum imaging :thumbsup:

Mike

[DJT]

Congrats on the obsy build. Enjoy ! :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Dave, thanks for the well wishes :thumbsup:

This is my third observatory build :eyepop: but it is always just as exciting, squeeeel :P

Mike

[RickS]

Looking forward to the images, Mike! Going for some megadata now that you're set up? ;)

Cheers,
Rick.

[strongmanmike]

Only dragged kicking and screaming :rolleyes: :lol:

I'm not automated remember, so in reality probably not really, will still largely be relying on the aperture and speed to deliver the results in session numbers measured in small single digits :lol:

[Octane]

That looks absolutely fantastic. I love it!

H

[strongmanmike]

:D Cool huh H?...busting to get out there now and start something new :thumbsup:

Mike

[Octane]

Tres über awesome. :)

H

[strongmanmike]

Well an observatory isn't really finished until it has taken an image (or you've looked through the scope) :)

Everything worked essentially flawlessly so I'm Very Happy :thumbsup:

Now to get down to the business of imaging the heavens :)

First Light Image: Sands through the hourglass (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/157369662/original)

Mike

[DavidTrap]

Looks great Mike,

What's the high tech t-shirt taped to the rear of the OTA for?

DT

[strongmanmike]

He he I thought someone would ask that :)

Keeps the light from the Laptop out of the fan holes at the back of the OTA, like a curtain but still lets the air escape

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Just completed two all-nighters (2 X 12hrs) in a row and I had plenty of power left and the solar panel coped just fine in between - another tick :)...now to hammer the Universe :thumbsup:

Mike

[h0ughy]

well done - so 2 x 12 hour nights eh? so what are the two projects?;)

[strongmanmike]

Just one :whistle:...t'is not finished yet but I am very happy with how the observatory has come together and everything works (touch wood), it's comfortable and already had a few kips on the sofa lounge, has great panoramic views to sit under sipping coffee in the wee hours and once the new 12" goto dob for visual use is commissioned this weekend..?.. I recon I will truly be in heaven :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

This afternoon I laid a path of concrete pavers from the control room to the dome and laid some others for a solid level platform for the new Skywatcher 12" GOTO dob :)

Ok...I think the observatory is now finally complete :thumbsup:

Mike

[RickS]

Looks great, Mike! What's the strange scope without a camera? Is that some sort of guide scope? :lol:

[strongmanmike]

It will provide the simple pleasures...while the real work is being done ;)

Now, just need a TV and Cappuccino machine (I have enough power :D) and Angie will never see me....

Mike

[h0ughy]

i have no idea why but all i can hear now are the munchkins singing follow follow follow the yellow brick road....:rofl: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cwCIkKFFR4)


Mike -i have a spare 12volt tv if you like and here is the coffee machine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJaewg3vpvY)

[strongmanmike]

PM'd you :D

[h0ughy]

ok here are the details of the TV

[RB]

Who needs TV?

:P

[GTB_an_Owl]

people who don't have chickens RB :whistle:

geoff

[h0ughy]

8 reasons:rofl:
:P

[Jen]

That looks really cool :) love it :thumbsup:

[RB]

Touché
:lol:

[The_bluester]

My problem is I am having some issues getting approval for some "Amenities" There is resistance to any sort of bed!

[oilydog]

Awesome work Michael, How is your battery consumption going? Do you have an average A/Hr use yet?

[strongmanmike]

Hi Mike

Cheers but no I haven't actually measured my consumption as such but all I know is I seem to have plenty of power at hand. I have done two full nights in a row a couple of times now and with everything running ie. NJP mount, laptop, 2 X cameras, 3 X heaters, 3 X fans, am/fm radio, lights on and off at times all running off inverted 240V plus a goto dob for visual through the night running straight from the batteries, the lowest I have seen the battery voltage indicator once off load when I am finished is 12.6V and after a single night they usually read 12.7V or 12.8V ie hardly a dent.

I seem to have more than enough power for my needs

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Well I was finally able to put my battery system to the full test on Sat night :)

Operating all night from 5pm to 5am off the two 150 ahr batteries (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/157207046/original) were:

Running from 1000W inverter:
White light in shed and dome (on when needed)
Laptop
NJP mount (mostly sidereal tracking with a few GOTO's)
CCD camera (running at -20C)
Guide camera
Atlas focuser
SX USB flterwheel
Two dew heaters on the AG12 (OTA and secondary)
3 X AG12 rear cooling fans
Charging mates Canon camera battery (twice)
Charging my I Phone (once)

Running direct from the 12V batteries:
12" Skywatcher dob GOTO mount, regularly in use (lots of GOTO's)
Two dew heater straps on the 12" dob (12" around OTA and 4" around eyepiece)
A 12V hairdryer to clear dew form my mates 6" SCT and camera lenses and my dob secondary, so getting down to -3C and dewy it was working pretty regularly throughout the night.

At the end of the night even in that cold (when batteries struggle more) and when the load was removed the batteries still read 12.3V or about 50% charged.

So this was my expectation when deciding on the size of system to install and I am happy now that I will never run out of power under normal conditions :)

Mike