Plans for a Robotic Observatory Wanted

[thunderchildobs]

Hi All

I am looking for plans, suggestions and recomendations on the following options.

1) I would like to make my current roll off roof backyard garden shed observatory fully robotic so that the roof can open and close automaticly via computer control and using weather sensors (something like a Boltwood cloud sensor). Ideally the opening / closing roof hardware / software should be able to interface with Software Bisque programs and scripting commands. Also it must have a fail safe method to park the scope before closing the roof. I dont want to wake my in the morning and found I have new pair of binos.

2) Or build a dedicated robotic observatory which could house a Paramount ME mount and a Celestron C14 or 14inch Meade ACF OTA. The observatory only needs to big enough to hold the mount / scope and a computer as this will be imaging setup and I dont plan to do visual observing. The observatory will need to be able open / close the observing slit or roof and rotate as nessary. Again the opening / closing roof hardware / software should be able to interface with Software Bisque programs and scripting commands.

Thanks
Brendan

[netwolf]

Recently revewing astromart i came accross an add for a new observatory dome for sale from a European manufacturer. On review of there site, there automation system seems quiet cheap compared to the competition. Its suitable for both Domes and Roll Offs.

Note the software is free, but you have to buy the ScopeDomeUSB controller (300USD) and motors. At present the only motor available ont here site is for Dome roation and shutter control. But the ScopeDOmeUSB can also control other devices and perhaps even other motors. Might be worth while looking into.

http://www.scopedome.com/en/scopedomerolloffroofdriver.aspx

[Moon]

They have some interesting stuff here:
http://www.fostersystems.com/

[thunderchildobs]

Thanks for the info.

Brendan

[rogerg]

There's a lot of different components which when put together right end up making a fully automated observatory. I don't think you're going to find an all inclusive answer as simply as it seems you're hoping.

Roll-off-roves can be automated relatively easily using guarage door motor mecahisms. I have looked at web pages in the past where the people take them and adapt them to astronomy purposes and sell them on, unsure on the details of them now.

Just about any observatory can be adapted to be remote, but it's usually custom to the observatory, after having learned what tact you want to take and then finding what parts can be adapated and working with that. You can take the tact of buying a complete system off the shelf from someone like Home Dome or Sirius.

Software Bisque products are easily integrated in to automation with cloud sensor etc using CCD Commander. In fact you can work from that end of the question - look at what components CCD Commander works with and buy/plug-in those parts.

Parking in case of errors and all that is fairly standard (and sometimes annoying), being 100% confident it's going to correctly work when rain clouds come over quickly as opposed to some other irrelevant error is more tricky.

Some resources for you to start building up the pieces you'll need:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatories/
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCDCommander/
http://www.homedome.com/
http://www.siriusobservatories.com/

A little info I once wrote about it:
http://www.rogergroom.com/astronomy/info_remote_automated_astronomy

[Bassnut]

How much are you willing to do yourself?. Commercial controllers can be expensive.

Manual opening and closing on timer/rain/cloud is the easiest and cheapest, heres what I made (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDmHLahTxMg)

The AAG CloudWatcher cloud detector (http://tienda.lunatico.es/epages/Store.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store.Lunatico/Products/BCW001), is MUCH cheaper than a boltwood, and interfaces with ACP, CCDCommander, CCDAutopilot 3, CCDAutopilot 4. Free software here (http://www.aagware.eu/software.htm)

IMO, its important the OBs roof can close with the scope in any orientation (not relying on park), so if the PME fails, looses power/coms/hangs etc, the roof can still close regardless if it rains.

[Gama]

I just got fed up with looking, comparing, finding drivers/software etc, so i just ordered the Maxdom II rotation only, then (And i wasnt happy about this next part), i had to build a relay box assembly to drive my 20A motor drive to the Dome. The Maxdome only has 5A rating.
But oh my, how sweet it is now, the whole scope/Dome, imaging, etc all controlled remotely via internet and wireless. Setup and sit inside a warm room in the house for the remainder of the night until i shutdown. Telescope moves, and dome follows, sweeeet. The same controller will do the rolloff room really easy, and take different sensors or accessories, like the weather station units..

Theo