Sands through the Hourglass - Terroux Observatory - First Light

[strongmanmike]

Well with the moon rising around 11pm and to test the whole system out I decided on a bright object for first light at Terroux :)

Only a bit over 2hrs of data and the seeing was only average (until after the moon rose :rolleyes: :doh:) but everything worked perfectly, scope, camera, guider, software, computers and the power system was hardly phased :D

To finish off the evening I had fun taking a few short subs and checking out a few galaxies that were transiting after midnight (with good seeing), deciding on my next target.

A most enjoyable night and great to be back under the stars for real :thumbsup: (and enjoyed the Maca's at 1.30am on my way home :P)

New Moon should see a return to my favourite...galaxies! :D

The insides of the Lagoon (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/157369662/original)(Full Frame)

The Hourglass Nebula (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/157369847/original) (100% crop)

[mithrandir]

Good to see a plan come together Mike!

[astroron]

Great to see you back up and Running Mike. :D
Cheers:thumbsup:

[alpal]

Hi Mike - great to see the first light.
I am sure there will be many more pics to follow.

cheers
Allan

[RickS]

Welcome back, Mikey :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Awesome setup. :thumbsup: Great choice of target.

[gregbradley]

Congrats! A lot of work to get to that point so now you are set.

Greg.

[atalas]

Great start!

[marc4darkskies]

Good to hear and see Mike! Congrats!

Now, can you send some clear Canberra skies to Sydney please?

[strongmanmike]

Thanks guys and yes I thought of you Marc when I was taking this first light :P

Mike

[MrB]

Awesome Mike, you must be excited, I would be!
The question beckons tho, considering your slight build, who helped you with all those counterweights? :D

[batema]

Fantastic photos. I think everyone's dream is to have an observatory and a bit of land under dark skies. You must be in heaven.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Simon and Mark



Ah yes...including the dec bar that's about 35kg there I guess :help:the NJP mount is a pretty strong unit (mount like owner) :)

Mike

[alpal]

Actually Mike - I think those counterweights
could do with a scrub with a wire brush & some fresh white paint.:eyepop:

[DavidU]

I'm very happy for you, all those years under the stars with no shelter.
Good on ya.

[strongmanmike]

Ah...yes :ashamed: every time I see a photo of my setup I think exactly the same thing...then I think of Berts outfit :scared:...and relax :lol:

My dome needs a clean too...

Mike

[Bassnut]

Excellent Mike, great start. Your set up is looking very smick indeed, good to see you back in the saddle.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Freddo :thumbsup: viva la Guinness :drink:

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
please don't try to emulate Bert's standards.
It's strange how some people spend a great deal on stainless steel counterweights e.g.

http://www.optcorp.com/astro-physics-10-lb-stainless-steel-counterweight.html

and others are happy letting steel ones rust away.
I think I'll repaint mine soon as they are getting paint chips.

cheers
Allan

[LewisM]

I keep looking for a laser shooting out of the top of your dome much like the AO units the ESO VLT's use at Paranal :)

[E_ri_k]

Nice setup! Bet your pleased with it :thumbsup: Look forward to seeing some images from it :)

Erik

[strongmanmike]

All but two of mine are just 2.5kg barbell plates, the ones at either end are the NJP 6.5kg OEM units, oh and they are threaded so thos e you link to are no good



That'd be good :)



Errr..? There is an image in my post :shrug: hence the title "first light"...:question:

But yes, quite happy :)

Mike

[E_ri_k]

Right you are Mike, think I had a bit of a moment there! :screwy: nice Lagoon :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Ah no, I don't think you are alone, I can tell from the number of image hits that not everyone who reads my post clicks on the image link :sadeyes: :thumbsup:

Mike

[dvj]

Excellent hour glass region shots. Could you not run the telescope from your house remotely via wireless connection or a log Ethernet cable? Or, through the internet via remote client software? I guess I am wondering why the need for a separate building to the observatory these days. I run my outside observatory from the home office with Team View.

Anyway, nice job on the "shed". You need a VB neon sign on the outside.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers John :thumbsup:

The observatory is an non mains powerd site (uses big arse batteries) and isn't at my house either but rather I have built the complex on a good friends property out of town. The observatory is located about 100m from their house, so although I haven't tested it yet I'm not sure I will even be able to access their internet connection? Besides all the extras I woudl need to make this setup remote capable is way out of my budget at this stage :sadeyes:

My wife insisted on moving us back to the city so I am just grateful that I have what I have at this stage. I wanted the seperate shed for some convenient, more roomy and warm accomodation for those long cold nights all alone :cold: It provides good storage too, with a bed and I will be warming it with a gas geater when necessary.

Mike

[dvj]

Ahhh, that explains it. I thought you were living in the bush country with the scope just outside. Shame you have to move back to the city. Hmmm, telescope?, wife?, telescope?, wife? ;)

[strongmanmike]

We were (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/145507420/original)...but the call of the civilised city life was too strong for Angie in the end :rolleyes: and I am now at our neighbours in that photo (in the distance top right) so in the end it was win - win :)

MIke

[MrB]

FYI, when you do have the budget for remote, 100m is easily doable with wifi :thumbsup:

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Great to see you back imaging Mike!:)

You would just about be able to setup observatories in your sleep.

Cheers,

Justin.

[strongmanmike]

OK, we'll see, cheers Simon



Cheers Justin...yeah I know :rolleyes: :lol:

Justin

Mike

[dutch2]

Gorgeous shots, Mike. Well done.:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Glad you think so Ingrid, hopefully many more to come :thumbsup:

Mike

[Rod771]

What an awesome new set up you have there Mike! Looks very cool. Very nice first light too :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks heaps Rod, not perfect or ideal but a suitable compromise in the end :)

Mike

[David Fitz-Henr]

Looking good Mike - love the control / warm room too! One step back (move to city), 2 steps forward (relocation of observatory + warm room) ... nice first light lagoon too :thumbsup:
Is that a modified Sidonio t-shirt stray light shield hanging off the back end of the scope :question:

[strongmanmike]

Well, I recon I have put on a couple-a kilos already, there are so many cafe's, restaurants and bars around here and all within strolling distance, in fact we have a boutique brewery, Spanish restaurant and a Pita Pit take away in our building :D :lol: AND I walk to work now (12min) so no parking or car use for that, more than makes up for having to drive 30min out to the Obs :)



Cheers, yes I was happy enough with the result, all the basics are good :)



Oh no that's a high tech filtering system like the Bunyip mate :shrug: :lol: Yep exactly...works perfectly :D

Mike

[cometcatcher]

Drool.....

[Fabiomax]

What a beautiful place! I think the dream of many of us, waiting for your next works. Well, in reference to Laguna, it seems to be inside!
Cheers,
Fabiomax

[strongmanmike]

Grazie Fabio :thumbsup: Yes it is a lovely location

Mike

[alpal]

Mike,
I often wondered about remotely operating a Newt?

Apart from the obvious cable tangle problems you'd
also need an electric focuser & a frame rotator to
put the target the way you want in the frame.
Operating PHD guiding would be difficult - you'd need a computer on site
that you could remotely operate.
I am sure there are a dozen more things I haven't thought of.

I will have to check it out one day as the weather in Melbourne
is so bad that my hobby is coming to an end here.

cheers
Allan

[LewisM]

I knew it! :tasdevil:

[strongmanmike]

Well I have the FLI Atlas digital focuser and I don't usually worry about rotating the camera.

My plan is to at least be able to control the dome lappie with another lappie in the shed/control room via direct network/remote desk top, then all I will have to do is wonder out every 30-45min depending on sky position to rotate the dome a little...yeah, not perfect but oh well, better than nuttin huh? :)



:question:.....:screwy:....:lol:

Looks like a Dalek :)

[dvj]

Remote is nice, but autonomous operation is nearly impossible. Something will break requiring service. Observatory roof won't open, power outage, equipment failures in general. PC motherboard failed. FLI Atlas failed. FLI Proline 16803 dies. Mount power supply fried.

Bush Fire required evacuation.

More recently, the receiver in the satellite dish died. So now I have no connection at all.

[Ross G]

A great looking closeup photo Mike.
Very nice detail and sharp.

An observatory and a "comfort" room.........you are getting soft!:)

Good luck with the setup and I'm looking forward to some amazing photos.

Ross.

[Shiraz]

Congrats on getting there. It must have been a nice feeling to put it all together, gingerly test everything and then realise that it's finally complete - you can get back to taking images of galaxies.

[Phil Hart]

Thanks to dvj for teasing out the explanation that was confusing me too. Great to see the setup Mike.

Phil

[alpal]

Mike,



You're doing well Mike & you have a powerful system.
I look forward to all your results.

cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

Yes some would say that remote is the only panacea but it has it's risks, issues and associated expenses in setup and maintenance :)



Cheers Rossco, yeah call me soft, I can take it :( :lol:



Sure was and sure will Ray, your recent galaxy images have really inspired me actually, thankyou :thumbsup:



Yes Phil, I have certainly had my fair share of moves in recent years huh? :lol:



Yeah I'm happy enough and the whole project came in nicely under budget too, so I even had enough left over to FINALLY buy myself a good visual scope - I grabbed a 12" GOTO Skywatcher flex tube dob from Steve Massey at Astro Shop :D so now I have something to do while I am out there imaging and can actually show people stuff when they visit, not to mention also finally having something easily transportable to take to SPSP :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Mike