Work has started on Al's Observatory - Page 5

sheeny (Al) · #81 15-04-2010, 07:20 AM

A couple of shots of startrails over the obs while I was doing some processing and IT work inside it last night.

The first one has a ghost of my white tee shirt as I'm entering the POD, so I "blacked" that out before stacking the second one.

Al.

allan gould · #82 15-04-2010, 08:52 AM

Nice one Al and gives your whole setup a good focus. Whats the skyglow in the left of the photo?

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #83 15-04-2010, 09:14 AM

Looks like the camera is facing North West based on the large arc of the stars and therefore the skyglow would be sunset..?

Al, the second one seems to have captured what I think to be an Iridium flare? or some other tumbling satellite stuttering across the frame?

What do you think?

Cheers

Chris

sheeny (Al) · #84 15-04-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan gould

Nice one Al and gives your whole setup a good focus. Whats the skyglow in the left of the photo?

Sunset. I started the run during twilight. It gives me the option of using some early frames if I want to for extra colour (such as the first image

). Both these images are made from the same set of data, I just dropped some of the earlier frames for the second one to get a darker sky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Looks like the camera is facing North West based on the large arc of the stars and therefore the skyglow would be sunset..?

Al, the second one seems to have captured what I think to be an Iridium flare? or some other tumbling satellite stuttering across the frame?

What do you think?

Cheers

Chris

Nice work, Detective Chris!

I think its a strobe on a plane. It's very regular, and while a tumbling satellite would also be regular, the angle to the sun would not be and any flat reflective surface would quickly fade. Actually I just checked the individual frames: definitely a plane. There is a fainter strobe beside each bright strobe and a red strobe just offset but always in the same orientation to the other 2. 31 flashes in a 30s exposure and about 5 x 30s exposures to cross the FOV.

Al.

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #85 15-04-2010, 04:42 PM

Ahh, Elementary my dear Sheeny,

Not as I thought, but cool just the same.

Cheers

Chris

kinetic (Steve) · #86 16-04-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

A couple of shots of startrails over the obs while I was doing some processing and IT work inside it last night.

The first one has a ghost of my white tee shirt as I'm entering the POD, so I "blacked" that out before stacking the second one.

Al.

Al ,

I have always wanted to do a shot like these.
I love it....perfect...awesome...beautiful .
Steve

sheeny (Al) · #87 23-10-2010, 12:40 PM

I've had the POD Zenith Table (PZT) kit for a few weeks now, but haven't been able to do anything with it until I got some marine ply. I picked that up today

along with some exterior paint that should match the POD (if my eye is any good

).

Now all I need is a free weekend of good weather!

Unfortunately I don't have enough shed space to make the PZT indoors.

One thing I forgot to get while at Bunnings was a couple of plasterers trowels to modify into handles for the dome so I can pull the dome back on without having to go outside... next time...

Al.

sheeny (Al) · #88 20-11-2010, 05:36 PM

Well its been an absolutely glorious day here today... perfect day for solar imaging, but I've had other priorities.

I installed the POD Zenith Table (PZT) today.

I didn't take any pro0gress photos, because I've been head down all day... I don't have the room to be able to assemble the PZT and paint it and install it some other time... so today has been a big day doing it all at once!

I've pushed the dome off and pulled it back on... it works a treat!

Al.

astroron (Ron) · #89 20-11-2010, 06:05 PM

Looking Strange there Al, I have not seen that feature before

h0ughy (David) · #90 20-11-2010, 06:11 PM

looks like a breakfast bar Al!!

sheeny (Al) · #91 20-11-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

looks like a breakfast bar Al!!

Yes, I can see it being multifunctional particularly when entertaining.

The seat that used to occupy that location beside the POD has had to be relocated to the patio for now, but I can visualise one or more eskies under the PZT, and a smattering of coasters on top... (must get coasters!

) ... probably accompanied by the smell of fried onions and steak...

Gardening tools of course are forbidden! ...and snow men are only allowed if no additional snow is imported to the PZT!!!

If I didn't have the solar panel trickle charging the battery on the north side I would've put it there to provide more shade to the POD walls and bays and help manage temperature, but being on the downhill side and with a garden there the PZT would not be so multifunctional I'm sure.

And yes, Ron, I haven't seen anything like the PST on other observatories, but then the POD isn't your usual dome either.

Now its sort of a hybrid... a push off dome

.

Al.

allan gould · #92 20-11-2010, 07:06 PM

Looks a bit like a tan jockeys hat, but nevertheless very functional. Glad that it works as advertised. Clear skies from now on.
Regards Allan

astroron (Ron) · #93 20-11-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

Yes, I can see it being multifunctional particularly when entertaining.

The seat that used to occupy that location beside the POD has had to be relocated to the patio for now, but I can visualise one or more eskies under the PZT, and a smattering of coasters on top... (must get coasters!

) ... probably accompanied by the smell of fried onions and steak...

Gardening tools of course are forbidden! ...and snow men are only allowed if no additional snow is imported to the PZT!!!

If I didn't have the solar panel trickle charging the battery on the north side I would've put it there to provide more shade to the POD walls and bays and help manage temperature, but being on the downhill side and with a garden there the PZT would not be so multifunctional I'm sure.

And yes, Ron, I haven't seen anything like the PST on other observatories, but then the POD isn't your usual dome either.

Now its sort of a hybrid... a push off dome

.

Al.

Thanks Al pictures of the new function when possible Please.

I am interested to see it in operation, yes it is not your average dome and that's for sure

Cheers

mozzie (Peter) · #94 21-11-2010, 05:42 PM

looking good al!!!! was it a big job to do in a day??? i put a pod cover on and its made a big difference in temps....

sheeny (Al) · #95 21-11-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mozzie

looking good al!!!! was it a big job to do in a day??? i put a pod cover on and its made a big difference in temps....

It was big enough

... I knew I'd done something for the day!

I had fitted the brackets and removable guide wheels beforehand, and also cut the Ply to size. So all I had to do was cut the pieces for the joining plates, join all the ply, paint both sides, install, trim the inner circle because it was too tight, fit the ramps and edge stops and paint the edge stops...

It needs another coat of paint yet.

Al.